Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in seborrheic keratosis by polymerase chain reaction.

ABSTRACT

We searched for HPV DNA in 72 cases of seborrheic keratosis (nongenital SK 29, genital SK 43) using polymerase chain reaction. Amplification of HPV DNA was found in 24 (nongenital, 1; genital, 23). HPV DNA type 6 was present in 18 cases and type 11 in four and type 33 in two. Twenty-three (53%) cases of genital region SK and one (3%) case of nongenital region SK contained HPV DNA sequences. Histopathologically, the perinuclear vacuolization of epithelial cells, mitosis and dyskeratotic cells were more marked in HPV DNA-positive SK than those in negative SK (P < 0.01). We suppose HPV may play an important role in epidermal proliferation of SK in the genital region.