Surgical induction of zoster in a contralateral homologous dermatomal distribution.

Herpes zoster occurs most often in elderly and immunocompromised individuals, and rarely after surgery. We report 2 cases in which zoster developed in the contralateral dermatome distribution homologous to the surgical site. The mechanism by which unilateral surgery might affect homologous ganglia is likely to involve spinal cord pathways above the dermatomal level of surgical trauma.