About Us | Privacy | Site Map
February 9, 2012
Font Size
A
A
A
...
5
...

Warts (cont.)

Medical Author:
Coauthor:
Medical Editor:
Medical Editor:
Medical Editor:

Exams and Tests

A wart is diagnosed by its location and appearance. If uncertain as to the type of skin problem, the doctor may elect to perform any of several different tests.

  • Skin scrapings: The doctor will use a scalpel to scrape the uncertain wart and send the sample to a laboratory. There, the pathologist (doctors trained at looking at skin and other tissues) will look at the scrapings under a microscope to evaluate for other conditions such as skin cancer that may look like a wart.
  • Punch biopsy: This is a more invasive way of obtaining a sample of the questionable wart. The doctor will numb the area around the wart and take a deeper coring sample. This skin and questionable wart will be sent to a laboratory for further evaluation that is not possible in a doctor's office. See information about moles and mole removal.

Next Page:
...
5
...

Viewer Comments & Reviews

Warts (Common Warts) - Effective Treatments For You

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

Which wart treatments have been effective for you?

Women's Health

Find out what women really need.




Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Warts, Nongenital »

Warts are benign proliferations of skin and mucosa caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).

Read More on Medscape Reference »

Medical Dictionary


Use Pill Finder Find it Now

Pill Identifier on RxList

  • quick,
    easy,
    pill identification

Find a Local Pharmacy

  • including
    24 hour
    pharmacies