Hypertrophic Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infection in a Patient With Acute Myeloid Leukemia

A 64-year-old woman had a transformation from polycythemia vera to acute myeloid leukemia. While she was treated with azacitidine and prednisolone, a nodule at the left angle of the mouth developed, which was biopsied and diagnosed with hypertrophic herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection. The nodule resolved completely with aciclovir. While HSV type 2 virus occasionally forms mass or tumoral lesions in immunocompromised, especially acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, patients, it is extremely rare that HSV-1 infection leads to similar lesions. The hematological conditions and the therapies given may have contributed to the rare manifestation of HSV-1 infection.