Epidermolytic acanthoma does not contain human papillomavirus DNA.

The histologic changes of epidermolytic acanthoma can mimic those of human papillomavirus infection. Sections from paraffin-embedded tissues identified histologically as epidermolytic acanthoma were examined for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, 18, and 33 using the polymerase chain reaction followed by dot-blot analysis with specific radiolabelled detecting probes. Although present in appropriate controls, human papillomavirus DNA was not detected in epidermolytic acanthoma. We conclude that epidermolytic acanthoma is not a skin lesion that is associated with human papillomavirus infection.