A renal transplant recipient on long-term immunosuppression develops a destructive squamous cell carcinoma of the periungual tissue of the right index finger. Which viral infection is particularly associated with periungual and genital squamous cell carcinoma in such patients?
- A Epstein-Barr virus
- B Human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 ✓
- C Hepatitis C virus
- D Herpes simplex virus type 2
Correct answer: B. Human papillomavirus types 16 and 18
Explanation
High-risk mucosal HPV types, especially HPV 16 and HPV 18, are detected in a substantial proportion of periungual, digital, and anogenital squamous cell carcinomas, particularly in immunosuppressed organ transplant recipients who have a markedly elevated SCC risk. EBV is linked to lymphomas and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, not cutaneous SCC, which rules out option A.
Reference: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology, 9th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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