| RADIOFREQUENCY | ARTICLE
The use of a radiofrequency surgery device for the
treatment of PPP has not been described in the current literature. Its use destroys the papules on direct contact, leaving the surrounding tissue undamaged. The radiofrequency surgical device also allows for precise control over the depth of tissue destruction, helping to avoid skin discolouration and the loss of sensation. It also allows for rapid healing with minimal side-effects and scarring, and usually requires only one treatment session to obtain the desired outcome. Radiofrequency
surgical devices are also markedly cheaper than CO2 lasers and much smaller in size, and have been used extensively and safely in medicine, dentistry and veterinary practice for many years.
PPP are
typically found on the corona of the glans penis and around the
frenulum situated in a string of pearls and clusters.
Background PPP are in fact angiofibromas of the penis. They are typically found on the corona of the glans penis and around the frenulum situated in a string of pearls and clusters. The aetiology of this condition is unknown, but the majority of those affected will develop the condition in their early teens. Uncircumcised males are more likely to develop PPP4
. According to some studies5 , the
incidence among the male population has been reported to be as high as 45%. This benign condition can create significant psychological discomfort owing to cosmetic appearance and its similarity to genital warts. Many patients are looking for a cure in order to avoid embarrassment with potential sexual partners. A number of therapeutic modalities have been laser resurfacing1,2
reported using full field ablative CO2 fractional resurfacing3
ablation mode6 ,
, and the 2940 nm Er:YAG laser in . Although ® in the hands of an
experienced surgeon ® all of these methods will potentially yield good results, one has to consider the costs of the procedure, the possible risk of infection and scarring, as well as the number of treatments it would require to
eradicate the papules. The proposed
Manifestation of pearly penile papules
Figure 1 37-year-old male with a 20-year history of papules, prior to treatment with radiofrequency surgical device
radiofrequency surgery method, presented in this article as a case report, which has been successfully performed on over 100 other patients by the author, demonstrates efficacy, safety and affordability. Radiofrequency is a type of electrical energy that has been used in medicine for decades. During a radiofrequency procedure, an ablative probe is placed directly on the target tissue. The radiofrequency energy passes through the electrode, causing ionic agitation, and friction to the adjacent tissue. This friction creates heat, and once the tissue temperature rises above 113 F (50 C), proteins are permanently damaged and cell membranes are destroyed within a few milliseconds. The process is rapid: full treatment of pearly penile papules on one patient typically requires less than 15–20 minutes. There is a sharp margin between dead
prime-journal.com | July/August 2012 ❚ 47
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