Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 19, 2026

RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
10:26

RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Published on: March 11, 2014

Human papillomavirus associated with Bowen's disease of the finger

Tomotaka Sato1, Arei Morimoto, Yasuo Ishida

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Ichihara Hospital, Ichihara, Japan.

The Journal of Dermatology
|February 26, 2005
PubMed

Insights

A rare case of Bowen's disease on a fingernail was identified in a 55-year-old man. Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 11 and 16 were detected, suggesting a role in this skin cancer development.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Oncology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Bowen's disease, an early form of squamous cell carcinoma in situ, typically affects sun-exposed skin.
  • Periungual lesions can present diagnostic challenges, sometimes mimicking benign conditions like warts.

Observation:

  • A 55-year-old Japanese male presented with a periungual lesion on his left ring finger.
  • Histological examination revealed features suggestive of both Bowen's disease and a common wart.

Findings:

  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis detected DNA from human papillomavirus (HPV) types 11 and 16 within the lesion.
  • Sequencing confirmed the presence of these specific HPV types.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the potential association between HPV infection and the development of Bowen's disease in unusual locations like the periungual area.
  • The findings underscore the importance of considering HPV in the differential diagnosis of atypical skin lesions, particularly when standard histology is ambiguous.
  • Further research may elucidate the specific mechanisms by which HPV contributes to keratinocyte transformation in this context.

More Related Videos

Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection and Detection13:45

Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection and Detection

Published on: February 7, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Poliomyelitis01:17

Poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus, a small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family and Enterovirus genus. Transmission occurs primarily via the fecal-oral route, often through ingestion of contaminated water or food. The virus initially replicates in the oropharynx and intestinal mucosa, particularly in lymphoid tissues such as the tonsils, Peyer’s patches, and regional lymph nodes. Primary viremia follows, allowing dissemination throughout the body.In most...
Herpes01:28

Herpes

Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV‑1) is a widespread pathogen responsible for orolabial lesions. It is an enveloped, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus belonging to the family Herpesviridae. Once the virus infects a host cell, its double‑stranded DNA genome is delivered into the nucleus, where a coordinated cascade of immediate‑early, early, and late gene expression directs viral DNA replication, structural protein synthesis, and virion assembly. After primary infection of epithelial cells, HSV-1...
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...