Multiple human papillomavirus-16 associated digital squamous-cell carcinomas in an immunocompetent woman with prior human papillomavirus-related genital carcinoma

Dermatol Online J. 2011 Oct 15;17(10):20.

Abstract

High-risk subtype human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which is known to contribute to the oncogenesis of anogenital squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC), is detected in the majority of digital SCCs. Evidence suggests a genital-digital route of transmission of high-risk HPV, and most HPV-related digital SCCs occur near the nail unit in immunocompetent adults. As early HPV-related SCC commonly appears as a verrucous periungual papule, a biopsy should be considered if such a lesion persists or occurs in an individual who is likely to inoculate their digits with high-risk HPV from digital-genital contact with themselves or sexual partners. We present a 60-year-old woman, who has a personal history of vulvar and cervical SCC and an appreciable disease burden from SCCs that involved five digits of her hands.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / virology*
  • Condylomata Acuminata / virology
  • Female
  • Fingers* / pathology
  • Fingers* / virology
  • Human papillomavirus 16 / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Immunocompetence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / pathology
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / virology*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / pathology
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology*
  • Sexual Partners
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / virology*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / virology*
  • Vulvar Neoplasms / virology*