Squamous Vaginal Papillomatosis in Prepubertal Female Twins: A Case Report.

This is the first case describing vaginal papillomatosis with a fibroepithelial polyp of the vulva in a prepubertal girl and vaginal papillomatosis in her twin sister. Parents contacted pediatric urologist regarding their eight-year-old daughter (twin A), who had a growth next to the external urethral meatus. The girl was referred to a pediatric surgeon. The exophytic 3 cm long structure with necrosis on top was found. After obtaining informed consent from girl parents, pediatric surgeon removed the exophytic structure and perform cystoscopy and vaginoscopy for possible changes in the bladder and vagina. Cystoscopy findings were normal. On vaginoscopy, numerous macroscopic papillomatous structures were identified on the cervix and vaginal walls. Vaginal biopsies were performed on the areas affected by papillomatosis. Histopathologic examination showed a fibroepithelial polyp with a central fibrovascular core covered by squamous epithelium and vaginal squamous papillomatosis. The decision was made to perform vaginoscopy on her twin sister (twin B), too. On vaginoscopy, solitary small vaginal papillomas were also found. In this case manifestation of vaginal papillomatosis in twins might have been influenced by inheritance and the same bacterial and viral environment.

Introduction

This is the first case describing vaginal papillomatosis with a fibroepithelial polyp of the vulva in a prepubertal girl and vaginal papillomatosis in her twin sister. Papillomatosis is a rare pathology of the female genitals. In the literature, most cases are associated with vulvar papillomatosis. The prevalence of vulvar vestibular papillomatosis is from 1% to 5% and is higher among young women [1,2], while the prevalence of vaginal squamous papillomatosis is unknown. According to literature, described cases occur in women ranging from 24 to 46 years [2-6]. There are no case reports available of this pathology in prepubertal girls. Fibroepithelial polyps of the vulva are diagnosed in older women, commonly aged 40 years, and are rarely seen before menarche or after menopause [7,8]. In literature we have found only four cases of fibroepithelial polyps in female newborns [9-12].

Case report

Parents contacted pediatric urologist regarding their eight-year-old daughter (twin A), who had a growth next to the external urethral meatus. The girl was referred to a pediatric surgeon. The exophytic 3 cm long structure with necrosis on top was found next to the external urethral meatus (Figure 1). There were no other abnormal findings found on medical examination. Ultrasound imaging of the kidneys and pelvic organs also showed no pathology. After obtaining informed consent from the girl parents, during general anesthesia the pediatric surgeon removed the exophytic structure next to the external urethral meatus. It was also decided to perform cystoscopy and vaginoscopy for possible changes in the bladder and vagina. Cystoscopy findings were normal. On vaginoscopy, numerous macroscopic papillomatous structures were identified on the cervix and vaginal walls (Figure 2). Vaginal biopsies were performed in areas that were affected by papillomatosis. Histopathologic examination showed a fibroepithelial polyp with a central fibrovascular core covered by squamous epithelium and vaginal squamous papillomatosis. The specimens were analyzed for human papillomavirus DNA by real-time PCR assay (Anyplex II HPV28 Detection; Seegene) and were negative for 19 high risk HPV types (16,18,26,31,33,35,39,45,51,52,53,56,58,59,66,68,69,73,82) and 9 low risk HPV types (6,11,40,42,43,44,54,61,70).

Figure 1.

Fibroepithelial vulvar polyp next to the external urethral meatus inferior part (twin A).

Figure 2.

Vaginoscopy of twin A: papillomatous structures on vaginal walls.

Because the patient had a twin sister (twin B), the decision was made to perform vaginoscopy and cystoscopy for the second twin (twin B). Her cystoscopy was also normal. On vaginoscopy, solitary small vaginal papillomas were found (Fig. 3). The decision was made not to take a biopsy, and she was not analyzed for HPV DNA.

Figure 3.

Vaginoscopy of twin B: solitary small vaginal papillomas.

Literature review

The majority of authors state that papillomatosis is a normal variant of the women genital mucosa [1,2,13,14]. In 1981, Altmeyer first described these lesions of the vulvar mucosa and named them pseudocondylomata of the vulva [15]. Up-to-date there are still many terminologies being used such as micropapillomatosis, papillae, pseudocondylomata, squamous papillomatosis, pruritic squamous papillomatosis, and hirsutoid papillomatosis. This might explain the unclear etiology of genital papillomatosis [1,6,15,16].

The clinical similarity of genital papillomatosis to warts has caused a disagreement about its etiology [5]. Results of most studies have shown that HPV is not associated with papillomatosis [6,14,17]. Although some authors state that the lesions are HPV-associated, [18] it is challenging for specialists to differentiate genital warts from genital papillomatosis, resulting in the wrong treatment choice. Five clinical features (Table 1), presented by Moyal-Barranco et al. could be used to diagnose and differentiate genital papillomatosis from other pathologies thus making additional procedures such as biopsies and HPV tests unnecessary [17].

The majority of patients with genital papillomatosis are asymptomatic, whereas others might have complex symptoms (pruritus, pain or burning, dyspareunia) [6]. Growdon et al. noticed that HPV was diagnosed in symptomatic patients [18]. However, other authors have not determined this association [19].

Histology in cases of genital papillomatosis showed koilocytosis, which is a sign of HPV infection [20,21]. There are opinions that glycogen production has an impact on genital epithelium causing the formation of pales in the cell cytoplasm, which is easily misinterpreted as koilocytosis. Therefore, HPV can be over-diagnosed with histologic koilocytosis [6,16].

A fibroepithelial polyp of the vulva is a mucosal polypoid lesion, which consists of a connective tissue core and a cover of benign squamous epithelium [22]. It is known that the growth of these polyps is related to hormonal factors, hence it is important to ensure follow-up [8]. The treatment of vulvar polyps is excision, and its recurrence is rare [23]. Fibroepithelial polyps are benign lesions and, currently, there are no cases that have reported their transformation into malignant lesions [11].

Conclusions

Vaginal squamous papillomatosis and vulvar fibroepithelial polyps are rare conditions in young girls. According to the literature, this is the first case of vaginal papillomatosis in twins. In our described case, the manifestation of papillomatosis in both girls might have been influenced by inheritance and the same bacterial and viral environment. There is a need for future studies confirming this relationship.

Table 1.

Clinical features of genital papillae.

Clinical features	Genital papillae	Condylomata acuminata
Distribution	Symmetrical, linear array	Random
Palpation	Soft	Firm
Color	Pink, same as adjacent mucosa	Pink, white, and red lesions often associated
Base	Bases of individual projections remain separate	Superficial filiform projections coalesce in a common base
Acetic acid test	No circumscribed whitening	Whitening in most cases