Detection of Human Papillomavirus Infection in Inverted Follicular Keratosis Lesions of the Eyelid by Immunohistochemistry Method

Inverted Follicular Keratosis (IFK) a benign tumor of skin appendages which is mostly presented as a solitary nodule with keratotic or scaling surface on the face of a middle aged or old patients but it can develop in other parts of the body. Different studies have lead to development of different theories about the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in this kind of skin tumor. The purpose of this study is to determine the probable role of HPV in this lesion. In a cross-sectional study, we selected all the samples with the diagnosis of IFK referred to pathology department of Farabi Eye Hospital, from April 1995 to April 2006. All these samples were evaluated for histopathologic changes specific for HPV. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was performed using antibody against HPV common antigen. The age range of the patients was 37 to 78 years (Mean=53). 18 patients (58%) were males and 13 patients (42%) were females. The lesion can develop in deferent areas of eyelid. Histopathologic changes regarding viral infection such as focal parakeratosis (80.6%), acanthosis (80.6%), papillomatosis (64.5%), hypergranulosis (67.7%), large keratohyaline granules (32.2%) and koilocytosis (16.1%) were evident within the lesions but HPV detection by IHC revealed positive result in any of the samples. The results about age, sex, anatomic site of the lesion and IHC staining were consistent with previous studies which consider no role for HPV in development of IFK lesions. Performing a more sensitive test such as PCR in order to strongly reject the role of HPV is recommended.