[Human papillomavirus-associated cutaneous lesions]

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are ubiquitarious viruses found in a majority of human epithelia, and occasionally in cancer. In skin, HPV are mainly responsible for benign lesions which develop on hands and soles. Various clinical presentations are described, including common warts, filiform warts, flat warts, butchers' warts, mosaic warts and myrmecia. Treatment of warts is often difficult and involves different destructive procedures. Recurrences are frequent because of HPV infection persistence in peri-lesional skin. Although the causal link between genital papillomavirus infection and cervical neoplasia is well established, further studies are still required to explain and understand the effects of HPV in skin cancer (Bowen's disease, squamous cell carcinoma). Other co-factors, such as ultraviolet radiation and immune suppression may be necessary.