Meatoscopy: an important technique for assessing meatal warts in men

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Dermatology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Genital warts, particularly those affecting the meatus and urethra, pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
• Accurate assessment of wart extent is crucial for effective treatment planning and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility and safety of meatoscopy for assessing urethral warts in men.
• To determine the prevalence of additional urethral lesions in men with meatal warts.
• To investigate the role of meatoscopy in patients with external penile warts or a history of urethritis.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 506 meatoscopic examinations in 307 male patients.
• Detailed recording of wart location, presence of additional lesions, and patient demographics.
• Follow-up examinations to assess procedure safety and recurrence rates.

Main Results:

• Meatoscopy identified additional urethral lesions in 52.5% of men with meatal warts.
• Lesions in the fossa navicularis were found in patients with external penile warts (6.7%), history of urethritis (7.8%), and contact with warts (23.5%).
• The procedure was well-tolerated, safe, and not associated with wart recurrence or proximal extension.

Conclusions:

• Meatoscopy is a simple, safe, and effective procedure for assessing the extent of urethral warts.
• It aids in immediate, rational therapy planning and identifies lesions not apparent on external examination.
• Meatoscopy is recommended for men with meatal warts, those in contact with warts, and selected patients with external warts or recurrent urethritis.