is a papilloma always a wart

[soconfused9]

I went to the doctor to get a bump biopsied from the skin next to my anus. The results came back as a papilloma and then said remote possible hpv virus. I guess the bump was so old that there was no characteriscs of a wart so they couldn't tell me. My question is could this just be another type of non wart skin growth. I'm so confused and not knowing is making me ill. I haven't told my boyfriend because I don't even know what to tell him

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

As best I can tell, this is purely an issue of semantics.  If the doctor did not believe HPV was involved ("remote possiiblity), then obviously s/he did not believe it was a wart -- regardless of using the word papilloma.  I would take this as good news.  And even if it was a wart, so what?  The biopsy itself probably cured it by removal; in that case, if it doesn't recur, if there are no other lesions, and if your boyfriend has no warts, then the problem is done and gone, probably forever.  This really doesn't seem to be anything to be so upset about.

But if you remain confused and concerned, then probably the best approach is to ask your doctor to refer you to a dermatologist for a second opinion.  Dermatologists are the true skin lesion, wart, HPV experts -- much more so than most ObG doctors.  In any case, there's nothing more I can say about it.

[soconfused9]

This is why I'm still confused. When I went in and they told me it was a papilloma, with a remote possible hpv virus. I asked her if that's a wart or not. She said she never seen that on a biopsy result and called the patholigist while I was in the office to clarify what it meant because I was so upset. When she called the patholgist said that he couldn't say for sure,that the bump must of got rubbed because of underwear,age,or friction. So my question is why would he think it was a papilloma in the first place if the the had no characteristics, is there something else that would make him think it was a wart.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the STD forum.

In general, "papilloma" and "wart" usually mean the same thing.  However, some physicians or pathologists may not consider the words synonymous.  In this case, a "remote" chance of HPV suggests your lesion was not a true wart/papilloma, because ALL warts (i.e. all true papillomas) are due to HPV.  You'll need to clarify this with the doctor who did the biopsy.  But for now, I agree you need say nothing to your partner.

If this does turn out to be HPV/wart after all, you still shouldn't freak out.  While nobody wants genital warts or other HPV infections, it should be viewed as a minor inconvenience, not a major health issue.  Almost all sexually active people have one or more genital HPV infections at one time or another; it is a normal, generally unavoidable consequence of sex.  But you might ask your doctor about being immunized with one of the highly effective vaccines that protect against some of the most common HPV types.

I hope this helps.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD