Pearly Penile Papules

(Angiofibromas)

Pearly or pink penile papules, which may be found in between 15 percent and 48 percent of men, are flesh-colored, smooth, rounded papules (1 to 3 mm) occurring predominantly around the coronal margin of the glans, rarely on the glans. Often there are rows or rings of the papules. Ectopic lesions, for example on the penile shaft, have been reported. They are frequently mistaken for warts or Tyson's “ectopic” sebaceous glands and often cause anxiety in adolescents. The histologic findings are those of angiofibroma, and the lesion is analogous to other acral angiofibromas such as adenoma sebaceum, subungual and periungual fibromas, fibrous papule of the nose, acquired acral angiofibroma, and oral fibroma. Reassurance should suffice, but cryotherapy and laser treatment have been used