Genital Angiokeratomas in Adult Men and Women: Prevalence and Predisposing Factors

Abstract

Introduction: There is a paucity of prevalence data for genital angiokeratomas in adults. The objective of this article is to determine prevalence of genital angiokeratomas in adults as a function of sex, age, and race/ethnicity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over 11 months during 2013 and 2014 using a convenience sample of adult men and women consenting to genital examination during melanoma screening and surveillance by a senior dermatologist in an outpatient clinic. The analysis was conducted from April through December 2016. Results: Of 213 white/European American adults examined (127 men and 86 women), genital angiokeratomas were detected in 30.0% (64/213). Presence of at least one genital angiokeratoma was significantly associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-4.5; P < .001) and age older than 50 years (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.7-6.7; P = .008). Conclusions: Genital angiokeratomas are relatively common in adults of white/European American origin and important to recognize because of their benign nature and occasional confusion with other tumors.