Search

Persistent infection of human papillomavirus (HPV) is suggested to be a risk factor for non- melanomal skin cancer, including Bowen’s disease, however the epidemiologic evidences are not sufficient at present. To clarify the role of HPV infection in the morphogenesis of Bowen’s disease, we examined whether there are differences between HPV-positive and HPV-negative cases with respect to characteristic histologic features of the disease, including hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, acanthosis, papillomatosis, and cell vacuolation. In 40 histopathologically diagnosed cases of Bowen’s disease, the presence of HPV in tumor cells was examined by in situ hybridization. HPV DNA was detected in four (10%) of these cases, and papillomatosis was recognized in 18 (45%). While papillomatosis was severe in one, moderate in five and slight in nine of the 36 HPV-negative cases, papillomatosis was severe in two and moderate in one of the four HPV-positive cases. With respect to the degree of papillomatosis, there was a statistically significant difference between HPV-positive cases and HPV-negative cases (p=0.036). However, there was no statistically significant relation between HPV infection and the severity of hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, acanthosis, and cell vacuolation. These data indicate that severity of papillomatosis in Bowen’s lesions is statistically related to the presence of HPV infection, and the results suggest that HPV infection may be associated with morphogenesis in Bowen’s disease