Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in squamous cell carcinomas of a patient with mycosis fungoides: report of a case

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) have been associated with squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the skin in both the immuno‐competent and the immunocompromised individual. A paucity of literature, however, exists concerning die presence of HPV in SCCs from patients with mycosis fungoides (MF)‐[cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL)]. We describe a case of multiple SCCs in which HPV DNA was detected over a 9‐year period from a patient with MF. This patient with a long history of MF developed 7 small red scaly indurated lesions of sun and non‐sun‐exposed areas during a 9‐year period (1981–1989). Histologic examination of all the lesions revealed that they were SCCs. The patient had no recorded history of arsenic exposure. To investigate the possible role of HPV as a co‐carcinogen, we tested the 7 cases of SCC for HPV. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on formalin‐fixed tissue sections using HPV L1 consensus sequence primers. Four of the 7 SCCs were positive for HPV DNA. These results suggest a possible role for HPV as a co‐carcinogen in the development of SCCs in this patient.