RESUMEN
We surveyed a variety of papillomatous lesions, trichilemmoma, and bowenoid papulosis for the presence of papillomavirus common antigen using an unlabeled antibody peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique and an antibody against papillomavirus common antigen. Papillomavirus common antigen was detected in four of six verruca vulgaris lesions overlying the nuclei of koilocytotic cells. The antigen was observed much less often in the granular zone of verrucous lesions that did not contain koilocytotic cells. Thirteen of 18 lesions of bowenoid papulosis had positive immunostaining overlying occasional nuclei in the granular zone but the antigen was not detected in the granular zone of squamous cell carcinoma in situ or of trichilemmoma. These data support the hypothesis that some lesions of bowenoid papulosis represent a form of cutaneous infection by papillomavirus.