Epidermodysplasia verruciformis in Nigerians.

An analysis of the clinical and pathologic characteristics of 12 Nigerian patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is presented. Two morphological variants have been observed, typical wart-like flat-topped papules and larger confluent plaques. Seborrhoeic keratoses were observed in patients with the second morphological variety of EV. Solar elastosis was found in biopsies taken from EV lesions in this subgroup of patients. A particular rarity of seborrhoeic keratosis in Africans is emphasized as no single African case of seborrhoeic keratosis was found apart from patients with EV. No malignant epithelial skin tumours were found in the whole group. Factors underlying an apparently more benign course of EV in Africans are discussed, and the literature on EV in African is reviewed.