CONDYLOMA ACUMINATA IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN - A SURVEY OF COLON AND RECTAL SURGEONS

PURPOSE: Condyloma acuminata are anogenital warts caused by a human pa pillomavirus. Human papillomavirus is a tissue-specific, site-specific , double-stranded DNA virus, which is capable of inducing high-grade g enital intraepithelial neoplasia and malignancy. The incidence of anog enital warts in the pediatric age group is rising, and sexual abuse ha s been implicated as a potential cause. METHODS: Accumulated data from separate questionnaires sent to practicing colorectal surgeons who ar e members of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and fel lows in colon and rectal training programs have been analyzed. RESULTS : Thirty percent of those polled responded to our survey. Of the respo ndents, 93 percent see less than two pediatric cases per year. Seventy -two percent stated that tissue specimens would be sent routinely for histopathologic identification. Although 73 percent of surgeons consid er anogenital warts a potentially sexually transmitted disease, only 2 6 percent reported screening for other sexually transmitted diseases. A diagnostic and therapeutic protocol is followed by 19 percent of res pondents. Patient follow-up varied from six months (43 percent) to lif elong examinations (3 percent). Sixty-four percent of respondents agre ed that a diagnostic and therapeutic protocol based on current knowled ge would be beneficial. CONCLUSION: We conclude that colon and rectal surgeons have a low exposure to anogenital warts in infants and childr en. Furthermore, we believe that a diagnostic and therapeutic protocol based on the current literature would be helpful.