Detection of Human Papillomavirus in Palmoplantar Epidermal Cysts

Park, Hyun Jeong; Lee, Dong Won; Ahn, Sung Ku; Lee, Seoung Hun; Cho, Baik Kee

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although traumatic implantation of epidermis into the dermis has been suggested as a possible mechanism of formation of palmoplantar epidermal cysts, most cases develop without a trauma history. Recently, human papillomavirus (HPV) was detected in palmoplantar epidermal cysts in some reports.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to find out the presence of HPV in palmoplantar epidermal Cysts.
METHODS
Seven cases of palmoplantar epidermal cysts were studied using clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examinations. They were also examined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method with general primers and HPV 60 type specific primers.
RESULTS
On histological examination, all three characteristic findings, that is, intracytoplasmic eosinophilic bodies in the cyst wall, parakeratosis within the cyst cavity, and the vacuolar structures, were not observed. Immnunohistochemical staining was negative for the papillomavirus common antigen. HPV DNA was not detected in these cases by PCR.
CONCLUSION
We could not detect any evidence of HPV infection in our cases of palmoplantar epidermal cysts. It is suggested that either our cases could have developed through a different pathogenesis or our study was done after the disappearance of HPV.