Multiple synchronous verrucous carcinomas of the scalp in the background of generalized verruca vulgaris

Abstract

Verrucous carcinoma (VC) is a clinicopathologic entity which is defined as a locally aggressive, clinically exophytic, slow-growing, well-differentiated, squamous cell carcinoma with negligible metastatic potential. The cutaneous form of VC is typically known to arise from the palmoplantar and the genitocrural areas. Involvement of the scalp is extremely rare. Multiple synchronous involvement of the scalp by VC along with associated generalized verruca vulgaris has possibly never been reported before. We present this unique report of VC in a 38-year-old male patient with emphasis on its atypical clinical presentation and the resultant challenges in management. Interestingly, the tumor cells of our patient were confirmed to be positive for human papillomavirus infection by polymerase chain reaction and by p16 immunohistochemistry.

Keywords

• Human papillomavirus
• scalp tumors
• verrucous carcinoma