Therapeutic efficacy and complications of excisional biopsy of condyloma acuminatum.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

Among the various treatment modalities for condyloma acuminatum, excisional cold-blade surgery appears excellent but it has been little studied and little used, particularly for lesions not located in the perianal area.

GOALS: To examine the efficacy and complications of scissors excision of single anogenital warts.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of single warts completely excised with scissors for the purpose of biopsy before patient entry in a randomized, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and safety of various parenteral interferons in combination with cryotherapy.

RESULTS

Of 152 patients entered in the main study, 85 patients were available for analysis. At 4 and 16 weeks after excision, 16 of 85 (19%) and 14 of 68 (21%) of the excised lesions recurred. After at 6 least months of follow-up, 2 of 11 (18%) of the excision sites demonstrated some evidence of pigmentation changes.

CONCLUSIONS

Scissors excision of single anogenital warts has a high rate of success and acceptable long-term side-effects.