Reasonable Hypothesis SOP [1] | 7 of 2023 |
Balance of Probabilities SOP [2] | 8 of 2023 |
SOP Bulletin 235 [3]
ICD-10-AM Codes: A63.0, B07
Warts are benign growths on the skin or mucosa caused by infection with human papilloma virus (HPV). They can affect any area of the skin or mucous membranes including the oral cavity, cervix uteri and anogenital region.
This diagnosis is made on clinical grounds. A biopsy may be needed in some cases of anogenital warts, to confirm the diagnosis and exclude malignancy. Testing for human papilloma virus is unhelpful.
The appropriate medical specialist depends on the location of the warts but may be a dermatologist, urologist or gynaecologist.
* another SOP applies
# non-SOP condition
Clinical onset will be based on self-report of when the lesions first appeared. There may be different clinical onsets for different body sites.
The course of warts is unpredictable. They may spontaneously resolve, persist, or progress. A variety of topical treatments are available, but these wont cure the underlying infection. Establishing that worsening beyond the normal course has occurred will be difficult and will generally require specialist opnion.
Links
[1] http://www.rma.gov.au/assets/SOP/2023/32f7cc3107/007.pdf
[2] http://www.rma.gov.au/assets/SOP/2023/6ee03f351b/008.pdf
[3] https://clik.dva.gov.au/system/files/media/SOP%20Bulletin%20235.pdf