Regression of plane warts following spontaneous inflammation

This paper describes the clinical and histopathological features in ten cases of spontaneously involuting plane warts. In all, rapid regression occurred after the sudden development of an inflammatory reaction. At an early stage a degenerative change appears in the upper epidermis and the typic features of the warts are masked. At the height of the reaction an intense mononuclear cell infiltrate in the dermis associated with epidermal spongiosis, exocytosis cell necrosis and focal parakeratosis is found. It is suggested that the development of cell mediated immunity may be responsible for spontaneous involution of warts.