The assumption that visible perianal warts are benign lesions in HIV-positive patients has to be reevaluated since an important number of such lesions could correspond to low-grade anal disease, which in turn could progress to high-grade anal disease or cancer. In addition, our results in this preliminary study indicate that imiquimod appears to be effective in treating AIN in HIV-positive patients. Further studies are needed to document its utility to prevent high-grade dysplasia and/or anal cancer.
A 25-year-old black man had a 20-year history of disseminated plaques on his body. Two years before consultation he noticed several tumors on the genitalia. Physical examination revealed generalized, coalescing, hypopigmented plaques with a very defined and keratotic border that resembled actinic porokeratosis. (Fig. 1). Multiple verrucous and moist tumors were observed on the scrotum (Fig. 2). His past medical history was unremarkable, and no family member had the disease. Histology of the body lesions revealed hyperkeratosis with a horny-layer, basket-weave appearance, large and clear blue-gray keratinocytes with finely granular cytoplasm and vacuolized nuclei, and abundant keratohyaline granules located in the upper epidermal layer (Fig. 3). Scrotum biopsy showed hyperkeratosis, irregular acanthosis with papillomatosis, and koilocytic figures. The genital lesions were treated with monthly cryotherapy plus surgical excision with complete disappearance of the lesions. A decrease in ultraviolet exposure and daily sun-block were encouraged for epidermodysplasia verruciformis lesions. After genital wart clearance, follow-ups are being scheduled every 4 months, with no new lesions to date.
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