A benign papillomatous tumor is derived from epithelium, with cauliflower-like projections that arise from the mucosal surface.

It may appear white or normal colored. It may be pedunculated or sessile. The average size is between 1–5 cm.

Neither sex is significantly more likely to develop them. The most common site is the palate-uvula area followed by tongue and lips. Durations range from weeks to 10 years.

The most common location by far is the gingival margin and other areas of the masticatory oral mucosa, these occur more frequently in the fifth decade of life, and have good prognosis, the treatment of choice for oral VXs is surgical excision, and recurrence is rare.

The condition can affect other organs of body, such as the penis, vulva, and can occur in anal region, nose, the ear, lower extremity, scrotum.

Differential diagnosis includes seborrheic keratosis, verruca simplex, condyloma acuminatum, granular cell myoblastoma, vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, bowenoid papulosis, erythroplasia of Queyrat, and verrucous carcinoma

Note: differentiation is done accurately by microscopic examination only.

Medically speaking, the term denotes a squamous intraepithelial lesion of the vulva that shows dysplasia with varying degrees of atypia. The epithelial basement membrane is intact and the lesion is thus not invasive but has invasive potential.

The terminology of VIN evolved over several decades. In 1989 the Committee on Terminology, International Society for the Study of Vulvar Disease (ISSVD) replaced older terminology such as vulvar , Bowen's disease, and Kraurosis vulvae by a new classification system for "Epithelial Vulvar Disease":

- Nonneoplastic epithelial disorders of vulva and mucosa:

- Lichen sclerosus

- Squamous hyperplasia

- Other dermatoses

- Mixed neoplastic and nonneoplastic disorders

- Intraepithelial neoplasia

- Squamous vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN)

- VIN I, mildest form

- VIN II, intermediate

- VIN III, most severe form including carcinoma in situ of the vulva

- Non-squamous intraepithelial neoplasia

- Extramammary Paget's disease

- Tumors of melanocytes, noninvasive

- Invasive disease (vulvar carcinoma)

The ISSVD further revised this classification in 2004, replacing the three-grade system with a single-grade system in which only the high-grade disease is classified as VIN.

VIN is subdivided into: (Robbins Pathological Basis of Disease, 9th Ed)

Classic vulvular intraepithelial neoplasia: associated with developing into the warty and basaloid type carcinoma. This is associated with carcinogenic genotypes of HPV and/or HPV persistence factors such as cigarette smoking or immunocompromised states.

Differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia also known as VIN Simplex: is associated with vulvar dermatoses such as lichen sclerosus. It is associated with atypia of the squamous epithelium.

A squamous cell papilloma is a generally benign papilloma that arises from the stratified squamous epithelium of the skin, lip, oral cavity, tongue, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, cervix, vagina or anal canal. Squamous cell papillomas are a result of infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).

In the context of lesions of the mucous membrane lining of the bladder, leukoplakia is a historic term used to describe a visualized white patch which histologically represents keratinization in an area of squamous metaplasia. The symptoms may include frequency, suprapubic pain (pain felt above the pubis), hematuria (blood in the urine), dysuria (difficult urination or pain during urination), urgency, and urge incontinence. The white lesion may be seen during cystoscopy, where it appears as a whitish-gray or yellow lesion, on a background of inflamed urothelium and there may be floating debris in the bladder. Leukoplakia of the bladder may undergo cancerous changes, so biopsy and long term follow up are usually indicated.

Most cases of leukoplakia cause no symptoms, but infrequently there may be discomfort or pain. The exact appearance of the lesion is variable. Leukoplakia may be white, whitish yellow or grey. The size can range from a small area to much larger lesions. The most common sites affected are the buccal mucosa, the labial mucosa and the alveolar mucosa, although any mucosal surface in the mouth may be involved. The clinical appearance, including the surface texture and color, may be homogenous or non-homogenous (see: classification). Some signs are generally associated with a higher risk of cancerous changes (see: prognosis).

Leukoplakia may rarely be associated with esophageal carcinoma.

The term Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) refers to particular changes that can occur in the skin that covers the vulva. VIN is not cancer, and in some women it disappears without treatment. If the changes become more severe, there is a chance that cancer might develop after many years, and so it is referred to as a precancerous condition.

Keratoacanthomas (molluscum sebaceum) may be divided into the following types:

- "Giant keratoacanthomas" are a variant of keratoacanthoma, which may reach dimensions of several centimeters.

- "Keratoacanthoma centrifugum marginatum" is a cutaneous condition, a variant of keratoacanthomas, which is characterized by multiple tumors growing in a localized area.

- "Multiple keratoacanthomas" (also known as "Ferguson–Smith syndrome," "Ferguson-Smith type of multiple self-healing keratoacanthomas,") is a cutaneous condition, a variant of keratoacanthomas, which is characterized by the appearance of multiple, sometimes hundreds of keratoacanthomas.

- A "solitary keratoacanthoma" (also known as "Subungual keratoacanthoma") is a benign, but rapidly growing, locally aggressive tumor which sometimes occur in the nail apparatus.

- "Generalized eruptive keratoacanthoma" (also known as "Generalized eruptive keratoacanthoma of Grzybowski") is a cutaneous condition, a variant of keratoacanthomas, characterized by hundreds to thousands of tiny follicular keratotic papules over the entire body. Treatments are not successful for many patients with Generalized eruptive keratoacanthoma. Use of emollients and anti-itch medications can ease some symptoms. Improvement or complete resolutions of the condition has occurred with the application of the following medications: Acitretin, Isotretinoin, Fluorouracil, Methotrexate, Cyclophosphamide.

Keratoacanthoma (KA) is a common low-grade (unlikely to metastasize or invade) skin tumour that is believed to originate from the neck of the hair follicle.

The defining characteristic of KA is that it is dome-shaped, symmetrical, surrounded by a smooth wall of inflamed skin, and capped with keratin scales and debris. It grows rapidly, reaching a large size within days or weeks, and if untreated for months will almost always starve itself of nourishment, necrose (die), slough, and heal with scarring. KA is commonly found on sun-exposed skin, often face, forearms and hands.

Under the microscope, keratoacanthoma very closely resembles squamous cell carcinoma. In order to differentiate between the two, almost the entire structure needs to be removed and examined. While some pathologists classify KA as a distinct entity and not a malignancy, about 6% of clinical and histological keratoacanthomas do progress to invasive and aggressive squamous cell cancers; some pathologists may label KA as "well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, keratoacanthoma variant", and prompt definitive surgery may be recommended.

Squamous cell papilloma of the mouth or throat is generally diagnosed in people between the ages of 30 and 50, and is normally found on the inside of the cheek, on the tongue, or inside of lips. Oral papillomas are usually painless, and not treated unless they interfere with eating or are causing pain. They do not generally mutate to cancerous growths, nor do they normally grow or spread. Oral papillomas are most usually a result of the infection with types HPV-6 and HPV-11.

Bowenoid papulosis is a cutaneous condition characterized by the presence of pigmented verrucous papules on the body of the penis. They are associated with human papillomavirus, the causative agent of genital warts. The lesions have a typical dysplastic histology and are generally considered benign, although a small percentage will develop malignant characteristics.

It is considered as a pre-malignant condition. Other terms used to describe the condition are: Erythroplasia of Queyrat, Squamous cell carcinoma in situ and Bowen’s disease. The term "Bowenoid papulosis" was coined in 1977 by Kopf and Bart and is named after dermatologist John Templeton Bowen.

The term “intraepithelial neoplasia” defines a premalignant intraepithelial change.

On the vulva it is termed VIN (vulvar or vulval intraepithelial neoplasia); on the penis, PIN (penile intraepithelial neoplasia); and on or around the anus, AIN (anal intraepithelial neoplasia). The terminology has been very confusing and it is now recommended that the terms Bowen’s disease, erythroplasia of Queyrat, and bowenoid papulosis should not be used for lesions in the anogenital area. However, dermatologists still recognize a distinct clinical variant, bowenoid papulosis, characterized by discrete papules in a younger age group and a tendency for spontaneous regression. Additionally, some authorities believe that erythroplasia of Queyrat and Bowen’s disease remain useful terms in men.

Oral florid papillomatosis is a condition characterized by a white mass resembling a cauliflower covering the tongue and extending onto other portions of the mucous membranes. This is a type of verrucous carcinoma.

Common seborrheic keratosis (also known as "Basal cell papilloma," and "Solid seborrheic keratosis") is a common benign cutaneous condition characterized by a skin lesion with a dull or lackluster surface.

Epithelioma cuniculatum (also known as Carcinoma cuniculatum, and Ackerman tumor) is a skin lesion, a type of verrucous carcinoma that may occur on the sole of the foot.

Additional types of nevi do not involve disorders of pigmentation or melanocytes. These additional nevi represent hamartomatous proliferations of the epithelium, connective tissue, and vascular malformations.

Heck's disease (also known as focal or multifocal epithelial hyperplasia) is an asymptomatic, benign neoplastic condition characterized by multiple white to pinkish papules that occur diffusely in the oral cavity. Can present with slightly pale, smooth or roughened surface morphology. It is caused by the human papilloma virus types 13 and 32. It exhibits surface cells with vacuolated cytoplasm around irregular, pyknotic nuclei and occasional cells with mitosis-like changes within otherwise mature and well-differentiated epithelium. A distinguishing histologic feature is elongated rete ridges resembling Bronze Age axe with mitosoid bodies present. It was first identified in the Aboriginal population.

Over time, they will spontaneously regress without treatment. Possible treatment may be excisional biopsy for lesions of functional or aesthetic concern.

Nipple adenomas may be felt as a lump under the nipple or areola. They may come to attention because of nipple pain, ulceration, swelling or discharge.

A seborrheic keratosis, also known as seborrheic verruca, basal cell papilloma, or a senile wart, is a non-cancerous (benign) skin tumour that originates from cells in the outer layer of the skin (keratinocytes). Like liver spots, seborrheic keratoses are seen more often as people age.

The tumours (also called lesions) appear in various colours, from light tan to black. They are round or oval, feel flat or slightly elevated, like the scab from a healing wound, and range in size from very small to more than across. They can often come in association with other skin conditions, including basal cell carcinoma. Sometimes seborrheic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma occur at the same location, and sometimes seborrheic keratosis progresses to basal cell carcinoma. At clinical examination the differential diagnosis include warts and melanoma. Because only the top layers of the epidermis are involved, seborrheic keratoses are often described as having a "pasted on" appearance. Some dermatologists refer to seborrheic keratoses as "seborrheic warts", because they resemble warts, but strictly speaking the term "warts" refers to lesions that are caused by human papillomavirus.

The term "nevus" is applied to a number of conditions caused by neoplasias and hyperplasias of melanocytes, as well as a number of pigmentation disorders, both hypermelanotic (containing increased melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color) and hypomelanotic (containing decreased melanin).

Giant condyloma acuminatum (also known as a Buschke–Löwenstein tumor and "Giant condyloma of Buschke–Löwenstein tumor") is a rare cutaneous condition characterized by an aggressive, wart-like growth that is a verrucous carcinoma. It is attributed to human papillomavirus.

Seborrheic keratoses may be divided into the following types:

- Common seborrheic keratosis (basal cell papilloma, solid seborrheic keratosis)

- Reticulated seborrheic keratosis (adenoid seborrheic keratosis)

- Stucco keratosis (digitate seborrheic keratosis, hyperkeratotic seborrheic keratosis, serrated seborrheic keratosis, verrucous seborrheic keratosis) -- Often are light brown to off-white. Pinpoint to a few millimeters in size. Often found on the distal tibia, ankle, and foot.

- Clonal seborrheic keratosis

- Irritated seborrheic keratosis (inflamed seborrheic keratosis)

- Seborrheic keratosis with squamous atypia

- Melanoacanthoma (pigmented seborrheic keratosis)

- Dermatosis papulosa nigra—Commonly found among adult dark-skinned individuals, presents on the face as small benign papules from a pinpoint to a few millimeters in size.

- Inverted follicular keratosis

Also see:

- The sign of Leser-Trélat

Bowen's disease typically presents as a gradually enlarging, well-demarcated red colored plaque with an irregular border and surface crusting or scaling. Bowen's disease may occur at any age in adults, but is rare before the age of 30 years; most patients are aged over 60. Any site may be affected, although involvement of palms or soles is uncommon. Bowen's disease occurs predominantly in women (70–85% of cases). About 60–85% of patients have lesions on the lower leg, usually in previously or presently sun-exposed areas of skin.

This is a persistent, progressive, unelevated, red, scaly or crusted plaque which is due to an intraepidermal carcinoma and is potentially malignant. The lesions may occur anywhere on the skin surface, including on mucosal surfaces. Freezing, cauterization, or diathermy coagulation is often effective treatment. Pathomorphologic study of tissue sampling revealed: polymorphism of spiny epithelial cells has progressed into atypism; increased mitosis; giant and multinucleate cells; acanthosis; hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis; basal membrane and basal layer are retained.

A nipple adenoma is a type of intraductal papilloma that arises within the lactiferous ducts that are located within the nipple.