Florid Cutaneous Papillomatosis Workup

  • Author: Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 18, 2012
 

Histologic Findings

The cutaneous papillomas are uniform with pronounced hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and papillomatosis. They lack evidence of epidermal vacuolization, parakeratosis, or eosinophilic inclusions suggestive of viral warts; however, patients in one study[20] did have these findings.

Results of ultrastructural evaluation, immunofluorescence tests, viral serologic tests, and DNA hybridization analyses to detect human papillomavirus in skin papillomas have been negative.[1] Accordingly, a viral origin is unlikely.

The principle concern in the differential diagnosis of florid cutaneous papillomatosis is viral warts. Florid cutaneous papillomatosis may morphologically resemble viral warts, but the microscopic changes in the granular layer of florid cutaneous papillomatosis are not present as they are in verruca vulgaris. The verrucous velvety pattern of malignant acanthosis nigricans facilitates the distinction, although acanthosis nigricans and florid cutaneous papillomatosis often occur together.

The sudden eruption of multiple seborrheic keratoses or the sign of Leser-Trélat may occur with acanthosis nigricans and florid cutaneous papillomatosis. Each seborrheic keratosis is a discrete verrucous nodule that appears as if it has been stuck on the skin. This nodule is easily distinguished from viral warts after careful scrutiny. However, patients have been reported to have oral acanthosis nigricans with multiple verrucouslike nodules on all of the extremities or rice- to pea-sized nodules on the trunk; these findings do not allow the reader to distinguish between the sign of Leser-Trélat and florid cutaneous papillomatosis.[21, 22]

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH  Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Sigma Xi

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Takeji Nishikawa, MD  Emeritus Professor, Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine; Director, Samoncho Dermatology Clinic; Managing Director, The Waksman Foundation of Japan Inc

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David F Butler, MD  Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey J Miller, MD  Associate Professor of Dermatology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine; Staff Dermatologist, Pennsylvania State Milton S Hershey Medical Center

Jeffrey J Miller, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Professors of Dermatology, North American Hair Research Society, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE  Medical Director, Clinical Studies Unit, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Associate Scholar, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE is a member of the following medical societies: Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: AMGEN Consulting fee Consulting; AMGEN Grant/research funds Investigator; Genentech Grant/research funds investigator; Centocor Consulting fee Consulting; Abbott Grant/research funds investigator; Abbott Consulting fee Consulting; Novartis investigator; Pfizer Grant/research funds investigator; Celgene Consulting fee DMC Chair; NIAMS and NHLBI Grant/research funds investigator

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The assistance of Edmund Janniger is greatly appreciated.

References

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