Final answer:
Peripheral papillomas can be either unilateral or bilateral and are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Not all HPV strains result in visible symptoms such as genital warts, and therefore HPV can be present without the detection of genital warts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Papillomas, commonly known as warts, are skin lesions resulting from infections caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). When discussing peripheral papillomas that are not genital in nature, they often manifest as skin warts. These can present in various forms, like plantar warts, common warts, or filiform warts. If a patient presents with multiple peripheral papillomas, they can be either unilateral or bilateral, depending on the type of HPV and the mode of transmission involved.
It's important to note that the detection of HPV, specifically the types that cause genital warts, cannot always be confirmed through visible symptoms. Human papillomaviruses include strains that cause genital warts and others that lead to cervical cancer, among various presentations. Some strains of HPV are asymptomatic and may not result in visible warts. Genital warts, a common manifestation of HPV, may present around the anus or genitalia, but their absence does not conclusively prove the absence of HPV infection.