title: Shingles developing within recent surgical scars.
abstract: Occurrence of varicella and recurrence of herpes simplex on traumatized sites of the skin are well-described events. By contrast, herpes zoster occurring specifically at the site of previously injured skin has not yet been reported. Two patients are presented who developed shingles limited to skin on and around recent surgical scars. Varicella zoster virus was identified using immunohistochemistry on skin biopsy specimens and Tzanck smears. We suspect that the occurrence of herpes zoster involving surgical scars is usually misdiagnosed and therefore unrecognized. Whether shingles adjacent to scars represents a coincidental event or is specifically triggered by local injury is unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatopatholgy, University Medical Center of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Nikkels
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Piérard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans