title: Noninfectious genital ulcers.
abstract: Noninfectious genital ulcers are much more common than ulcers arising from infections. Still, it is important to take a thorough history of sexual activity and a sexual abuse screen. A physical exam should include skin, oral mucosa, nails, hair, vulva, and vaginal mucosa if needed. The differential diagnosis of noninfectious genital ulcers includes: lipschütz ulcers, complex aphthosis, Behçet's syndrome, vulvar metastatic Crohn's disease, hidradenitis suppurativa, pyoderma gangrenosum, pressure ulcers, and malignancies. It is important to come to the correct diagnosis to avoid undue testing, stress, and anxiety in patients experiencing genital ulcerations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ontario, Canada. ckirs034@uottawa.ca.
authors.forename: Carly
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kirshen
authors.affiliation: Mid-Charlotte Dermatology and Research, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Libby
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D017497:Hidradenitis Suppurativa / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017511:Pyoderma Gangrenosum / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014456:Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Behçet’s; Lipschütz; complex aphthosis; hidradenitis suppurativa; metastatic Chrohn; noninfectious genital ulcers; pyoderma gangreno