Pearly penile papules: a common cause of concern

This study of two hundred men attending a department of genitourinary medic ine documented a prevalence of pearly penile papules of 48%. Most men with papules had only a few lesions of less than 1 mm in size (73%). Nineteen pe r cent had papules of less than 1 mm in size extending around the corona an d 8% had lesions greater than 1 mm in size extending around the corona. Ove r one-third of men with papules had previously been concerned or worried by their presence and approximately one-quarter had experienced embarrassment . Fourteen per cent of men with small lesions and 75% with larger lesions w ished to have them removed. Two men with large and extensive papules underw ent treatment by CO2 laser ablation with excellent cosmetic results.