Verruca Pedis Flashcards
What is Verruca Pedis?
- A ‘Benign Neoplasm’ of the epidermis, caused by a viral infection
- ‘Neoplasm’ - abnormal mass of tissue as a result of abnormal cell proliferation (neoplasia)
What is the aetiology of Verruca Pedis?
- Trauma to the epidermis enables a portal of entry for HPV
- Transmission from someone else
- Skin to skin contact - micro inoculation
- Communal changing areas / showers
- Can lay dormant in S.Basall, stress can cause the HPV to activate in the S.Spinosum
What is the Pathology of Verruca Pedis?
- Virus is metabolically inert (inactive)
- Only replicate after infecting the host cell
- Uses keratinocytes to transcribe / translate genetic information
- Leads to excessive keratinocyte production in the S.Spinosum
What is Acanthosis?
abnormal but benign thickening
How does HPV Verruca Pedis cause viral mitosis?
Infected host keratinocyte cells replicate faster than normal keratinocyte DNA, leading to acanthosis of the stratum spinosum
What is the differential diagnosis for Verruca Pedis?
- Heloma Durum
- Heloma Vasculare
- Foreign Body
- Trauma - Puncture Wound
- Malignant Meloma
How do you differentiate between HD and VP?
What is the impact of VP on the dermis?
- Ridges elongate
- Which increases pressure on the capillaries
- This can lead to thrombosed/punctured capillaries
What are the treatment aims of VP?
- Reduce size/resolve VP
- Reduce pain
What is a Keratolytic?
A substance which destroys skin tissue
What Keratolytic treatments are available for VP?
- Salicylic Acid
- Trichloracetic Acid
- Monochloracetic Acid
What % Salicylic Acid is used at the Uni Clinic?
60%
What skin prep should be done when using Salicylic Acid?
- Mask the surrounding tissue with Zinc Oxide tape
What Caustics are available to treat VP?
- Silver Nitrate
- Pyrogallol
What % Silver Nitrate is availbale at the Uni clinic?
- 75%
- 90%
