Extensive condyloma acuminata treated with imiquimod 5% cream: a case report

Genital warts are one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, and are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11. Standard treatments for genital warts include cryotherapy, laser therapy, trichloroacetic acid and podophyllotoxin. We report the case of a 21-year-old female with extensive genital warts. A patient-applied, non-destructive therapy was considered to be the most appropriate treatment in this case, due to the extent of the disease and the resulting psychological distress experienced by the patient. She applied imiquimod 5% cream three times per week for a period of 5 weeks, which resulted in complete clearance of all the warts. Minor inflammatory changes were observed during treatment; however, no significant pain was by reported the patient. No recurrences were reported during 2 years of follow-up.