Recurrent infantile digital fibromatosis with HPV infection: a case report

Infantile digital fibromatosis is a rare, benign fibrous tumor among infants usually limited to fingers and toes. Most cases present themselves with round eosinophilic inclusion bodies of different sizes, similar to erythrocyte in the parakarytoplasm. Although infantile digital fibromatosis had been observed with a tendency of spontaneous regression after a rapid phase of growth in some reports, the recurrence rate of early surgical intervention remains high. And the mechanism of recurrence is still unknown. Human papillomavirus (HPV), as a circular icosahedral double-stranded DNA virus, is famous for its remarkable significant correlation with cervical cancer. However, the reports about the possible relationship of recurrent infantile digital fibromatosis and HPV infection are rare and inconsistent. Here, we report a recurrent case of infantile digital fibromatosis after surgical resection. Pathological biopsy of the recurrent site not only identified the diagnosis of infantile digital fibromatosis again, but found the sign of HPV infection. Family history indicated that the patient's grandmother had a history of verruca plana. After complete resection of recurrence, the tumor recurred again and the case is still being followed up. The unique case may serve as a clue to the pathogenesis of the relationship between recurrent infantile digital fibromatosis and HPV infection.