title: Myrmecia wart inclusions as an incidental histopathologic finding.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Latent infection by human papillomavirus (HPV) has been described for genital (mucosal) and epidermodysplasia verruciformis subtypes. Only rarely has cutaneotropic, non-oncogenic HPV been found by polymerase chain reaction studies in normal skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  We noted myrmecia wart inclusions as an incidental histopathologic finding in four specimens from diverse sites (eyebrow, scalp, forehead, leg). The final diagnoses for these four cases were intradermal nevus, scarring alopecia, benign keratosis and stasis dermatitis. Anti-HPV antibody staining was performed in all cases. This antibody detects HPV-1,6,11,16,18 and 31 in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The foci of myrmecia wart inclusions were characterized by smooth to angular cytoplasmic inclusions in the granular layer, spanning one to three rete. The inclusions stained with an anti-HPV antibody in three specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This finding of incidental myrmecia wart inclusions in skin biopsies supports latent infection by cutaneotropic, non-carcinogenic HPV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. jademdcu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jade
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wititsuwannakul
authors.forename: Christine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D014860:Warts / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology