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Myrmecia wart inclusions as an incidental histopathologic finding
Author(s) -
Wititsuwannakul Jade,
Ko Christine J.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0560.2012.01968.x
Subject(s) - pathology , medicine , dermatology , biology
Background Latent infection by human papillomavirus ( HPV ) has been described for genital (mucosal) and epidermodysplasia verruciformis subtypes. Only rarely has cutaneotropic, non‐oncogenic HPV been found by polymerase chain reaction studies in normal skin. Methods We noted myrmecia wart inclusions as an incidental histopathologic finding in four specimens from diverse sites (eyebrow, scalp, forehead, leg). The final diagnoses for these four cases were intradermal nevus, scarring alopecia, benign keratosis and stasis dermatitis. Anti‐ HPV antibody staining was performed in all cases. This antibody detects HPV ‐1,6,11,16,18 and 31 in formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissue. Results The foci of myrmecia wart inclusions were characterized by smooth to angular cytoplasmic inclusions in the granular layer, spanning one to three rete. The inclusions stained with an anti‐ HPV antibody in three specimens. Conclusions This finding of incidental myrmecia wart inclusions in skin biopsies supports latent infection by cutaneotropic, non‐carcinogenic HPV .