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Published on: March 8, 2012
Multiple Bowen's disease of the fingers associated with human papilloma virus type 16
J D McGrae1, C E Greer, M M Manos
1College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University.
Background:
The occurrence of multiple Bowen's disease (BD) in skin away from the anogenital area is rare. In contrast, multiple lesions of BD involving the anogenital skin (bowenoid papulosis) are not so rare and have been found to associated with human papilloma virus (HPV) usually type 16. We encountered a patient with multiple BD of the fingers and endeavored to detect HPV in his lesions.
Methods:
Separate BD lesions from 3 fingers of the patient were investigated for the presence of HPV by means of the polymerase chain reaction, followed by dot blot hybridization. Other cases of BD with coexistent hpv infection excluding the anogenital area were collected from the literature for comparative study.
Results:
HPV type 16 was detected in each of the three finger lesions of BD. Twenty cases of HPV related BD involving sites other than the anogenital area were found in the literature. Three of these cases had multiple lesions.
Conclusions:
Review of the 4 cases with multiple HPV related nonanogenital BD and the 17 others with solitary lesions reveals predilection for the hands and feet (90%) and affinity for type 16 infection (81%). The lesions usually present as verrucous plaques.
Insights
Multiple Bowen's disease (BD) lesions on fingers were found to be associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16. This rare occurrence highlights HPV's role in non-anogenital skin cancers.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Oncology
- Virology
Background:
- Multiple Bowen's disease (BD) in non-anogenital skin is uncommon.
- Anogenital BD (bowenoid papulosis) is frequently linked to human papillomavirus (HPV), typically type 16.
- This study investigated HPV in a rare case of multiple digital BD.
Observation:
- A patient presented with multiple BD lesions on the fingers.
- HPV DNA was detected in all three finger lesions using polymerase chain reaction and dot blot hybridization.
Findings:
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 was identified in each of the three finger lesions.
- A literature review identified 20 cases of HPV-related non-anogenital BD, with three involving multiple lesions.
- The study found a strong predilection for hands and feet (90%) and a high association with HPV type 16 (81%) in multiple non-anogenital BD cases.
Implications:
- The findings suggest HPV type 16 may play a significant role in the development of multiple non-anogenital BD.
- Verrucous plaques are a common presentation for these lesions.
- Further research into HPV's role in cutaneous malignancies is warranted.
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