Oral Multifocal Papillary Lesions in a Young Child: Clinico-Pathologic and Medico-Legal Considerations

Abstract

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a non-enveloped DNA virus that infects cutaneous and mucosal epithelial cells. Oral lesions of HPV can present as solitary or multifocal lesions, and multifocal lesions can represent a diagnostic challenge clinically with important medicolegal considerations in some cases. We report a unique case of a 12-year-old boy presenting with oral multifocal papillary mucosal lesions which upon biopsy was found to be consistent with a diagnosis of condyloma acuminatum or Heck’s disease histopathologically; in situ hybridization studies also confirmed positivity for low risk HPV subtypes in affected tissue. Based on the pathology results and our clinical protocols, we contacted social servicesto rule out the sexually transmitted disease condyloma. A final diagnosis of Heck’s disease was rendered after clinico-pathologic and social correlation. Cryotherapy with topical anesthesia was used to successfully treat the lesions with no evidence of recurrence on 6 month follow-up.