Detection of Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs) by Immunohistochemistry (P16ink4a) In Verrucous Skin Lesions

Even though the p16 marker allows us to distinguish between benign and malignant verrucous skin lesions, we are unable to determine the patient's Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs) status despite the existence of recognized histopathological features that indicate its presence like koilocytic change, since a proper correlation couldn’t be made between this feature and p16 expression. Even though PV type 16 and 18 are a risk factor for developments of anogenital skin lesion diffuse p16 expression cannot always be attributed to HPVs as there may be several other risk factors causing skin lesions, unlike in cervical lesions such as squamous cell carcinomas, many studies have established the role of oncogenic HPVs with its carcinogenesis. This marker cannot be used as a surrogate for detection of HPV infection. The present study was the expression of p16INK4A in histological sections of verrucous skin lesions. To compare the expression of p16INK4a in benign, premalignant and malignant lesions involving the skin and comparing the pattern of expression of p16INK4a in skin lesions by immunohistochemistry and correlating the results with certain histological parameters that might indicate HPV infection.