Tracing human papillomavirus in skin and mucosal squamous cell carcinoma: a histopathological retrospective survey


Submitted: 22 August 2023
Accepted: 12 November 2023
Published: 1 February 2024
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Authors

  • Ali Nili Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran; Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran, Islamic Republic of.
  • Maryam Daneshpazhooh Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran, Islamic Republic of.
  • Hamidreza Mahmoudi Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran, Islamic Republic of.
  • Kambiz Kamyab Department of Dermatopathology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran, Islamic Republic of.
  • Shirin Taraz Jamshidi Department of Dermatopathology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, Islamic Republic of.
  • Saeed Soleiman-Meigooni Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of.
  • Mohammad Darvishi Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran; Department of Aerospace and Subaquatic Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of.

Worldwide, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) incidence is rising. The literature debates the human papillomavirus (HPV)’s role in cutaneous SCC development. We examined HPV histopathology in SCC samples in this study. Retrospective study at tertiary referral skin center in 2020. Histopathological features of HPV, including koilocytosis, hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, hypergranulosis, parakeratosis, solar elastosis, papillomatosis, and tumor grade, were examined in SCC specimens. Two dermatopathologists independently reevaluated all samples. We examined 331 SCC cases (male:female ratio = 3.9:1). The mean age was 68.1, with 15.1 standard deviation. Lesions were most common on the face (40.5%), scalp (22.7%), and extremities (20.8%). Koilocytes were found in 50 (15.1%) lesions. Nail (38.1%, p=0.007), oral cavity (36.8%, p=0.014), and genitalia (60.0%, p=0.026) lesions had higher koilocytosis rates. SCCs were found in 6.6% of specimens, but in situ tumors had the highest koilocytosis (64.7%), significantly higher than other grades (p<0.001). SCC pathology often shows HPV and specific koilocyte histopathology. Well-differentiated SCC has a stronger association with nail, oral, and genital lesions.


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Nili, A., Daneshpazhooh, M., Mahmoudi, H., Kamyab, K., Jamshidi, S. T., Soleiman-Meigooni, S., & Darvishi, M. (2024). Tracing human papillomavirus in skin and mucosal squamous cell carcinoma: a histopathological retrospective survey. Dermatology Reports, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/dr.2024.9833

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