Herpes simplex vegetans: atypical genital herpes infection with prominent plasma cell infiltration in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract

Herpes simplex vegetans is a rare disorder even in immunocompromised patients. It typically affects patients with HIV or myeloproliferative diseases.The atypical cutaneous lesions show papillomatous vegetations in varying locations. Histologically the lesions show pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia of squamous epithelium, plasma cell infiltration and are positive for HSV 1 and/or HSV 2. Herpes simplex vegetans often responds poorly to treatment in immunocom-promised patients.