Giant seborrheic keratoses on penis

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Oncology
• Virology

Background:

• Seborrheic keratoses (SKs) are common benign epidermal tumors, but their pathogenesis remains unclear.
• SKs are exceptionally rare in the genital area, posing diagnostic challenges.
• The potential role of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) in SK development is under investigation.

Observation:

• A case of an unusual genital seborrheic keratosis in a young male patient is presented.
• Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of seborrheic keratosis.
• Real-time polymerase chain reaction detected low-risk HPV 6 within the genital lesions.

Findings:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) type 6 was identified in a rare genital seborrheic keratosis.
• The study suggests a potential etiological role for HPV in the development of seborrheic keratoses.
• Successful treatment with shave excision showed no recurrence at six months.

Implications:

• This finding expands the understanding of seborrheic keratosis pathogenesis, particularly in extragenital sites.
• The presence of HPV 6 in genital SKs highlights the need to consider viral factors in diagnosis and management.
• While HPV 6 is low-risk, its association with genital SKs warrants further research into the specific mechanisms involved.