A 23-year-old, sexually active man has been treated for Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection 6 times during the past 5 years. He now comes to the physician because of the increasing number and size of warty lesions slowly enlarging on his external genitalia during the past year. On physical examination, there are multiple 1- to 3-mm sessile, nonulcerated, papillary excrescences over the inner surface of the penile prepuce. These lesions are excised, but 2 years later, similar lesions appear. Which of the following conditions most likely predisposed him to the development of these recurrent lesions?
High-Yield Explanation
Condyloma acuminatum is a benign, recurrent squamous epithelial proliferation resulting from infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, one of many sexually transmitted diseases that can occur in sexually active individuals. Koilocytosis is particularly characteristic of HPV infection. Candidiasis can be associated with inflammation, such as balanoposthitis, but not condylomata. Recurrent gonococcal infection indicates that the patient is sexually active and at risk for additional infections, but is not the cause for the condylomata. The gonococcal infection causes suppurative lesions in which there may be liquefactive necrosis and a neutrophilic exudate or mixed inflammatory infiltrate. Circumcision generally reduces risks for infections. Phimosis is a nonretractile prepuce, and paraphimosis refers to forcible retraction of the prepuce that produces pain and urinary obstruction.