Human papillomavirus is more frequently detected in the pelvic than non-pelvic area in patients with squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen’s disease)

Background: The detection rate of human papillomavirus (HPV) in Bowen’s disease (BD) varies greatly. Objectives: To detect HPV DNA in BD samples using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and compare HPV detection rates between pelvic and non-pelvic BD. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 99 patients with BD in our institution. DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks. The presence of HPV DNA material was detected using special kit-based NGS technology. Clinical characteristics and HPV detection rates were then compared between pelvic and non-pelvic BD samples. Results: HPV was detected in 26 (26.3%) BD samples. A total of 10 types of α-HPV was detected: HPV 16, 53, 31, 58, 66, 26, 27, 57, 45, and 72. The most common HPV type was 16 (12.1%). Only two types (27 and 57) were frequently classified as cutaneous type, and the rest were mucosal types. The HPV detection rate was significantly higher in pelvic BD (45.2%) compared to non-pelvic BD (17.6%). Conclusion: The present study suggests that sexually transmitted mucosal α-HPV plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of BD, especially in the pelvic region.