Epidermal cysts may develop on any part of the body. Most of them are thought to occur following inflammation of the epithelium of the hair follicle. Theose found on the palm and sole where the hair follicle is absent have been considered to
debelop
following a traumatic inclusion of the epidermis into the dermis. Because only a few cases were known to be related to preceding trauma, the latter assumption has been questioned. Recently, the HPV-like virions and papillomavirus genus-specific
antigen
were detected in the epidermal cyst of the sole in some repcrts.
Four cases of plantar epidermal cyst were studied for the presence of human papillomavirus using conventional yhistologic and immunohistochemical examination. Histologic examination showed three characteristic findings, that is, intracytoplasmic
eosinophilic bodies in the cyst wall, parakeratosis within the cyst cavity, and vacuolar structures dispersed in the wall and cavity. In all of the cases, immunohistochemical staining was positive for papillomavirus antigen. These findings
suggest
an
etiologic association between the papillomavirus infectio and plantar epidermal cyst.
(Kor J Dermatol 1995;33(2) : 384~389)
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