Home Chapter Home Jobs Conferences Fellowships Books
Advertisement
Penis and scrotum
Infectious disorders
Molluscum contagiosum
Reviewers: Antonio Cubilla, M.D. and Alcides Chaux, M.D. (see Author/Reviewers page)
Revised: 18 February 2010, last major update February 2010
Copyright: (c) 2002-2010, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
Definition
=========================================================================
● Dome shaped papule with central umbilication, caused by DNA pox virus called molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV)
Sites
=========================================================================
● In children ages 1-5 years, occurs commonly on almost all body sites, including trunk, arms and legs
● In adults, is considered a sexually transmitted disease, often due to MCV2 virus
Etiology
=========================================================================
● Caused by DNA pox virus, which only infects humans
● Spreads by skin to skin contact, autoinnoculation (spread to neighboring areas by touch), sexual transmission or by handling objects with the virus on them
Case reports
=========================================================================
● 65 year old HIV+ man with genital lesions appearing after institution of HAART therapy, as part of the immune reconstitution syndrome (Dermatology Online Journal 2007;13:6 )
Treatment
=========================================================================
● Usually resolves within months in people with a normal immune system
● Virus lives only in lesions – once they are gone, patient is cured, unless reinfected
● Treatment is similar to that for warts – cryotherapy, acid, electrocautery, curetting or laser therapy; also topical trichloroacetic acid, cantharidin, retinoic acid or imiquimod
Clinical images
=========================================================================
Lesions on shaft of penis Skin lesions (site unspecified)
Multiple lesions on shaft of 30 year old drug abuser
(courtesy Dr. Ioachim, New York)
Gross description (Macroscopy)
=========================================================================
● 3-6 mm dome shaped pearly painless papule with central umbilication
Micro description (Histopathology)
=========================================================================
● Prominent Henderson-Patterson (molluscum) bodies (intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions containing virus particles) in keratinocytes of stratum spinosum and granulosum
● Epidermal lobular acanthosis with inverted epidermal hyperplasia
Micro images
=========================================================================
Low power
Henderson-Patterson bodies
Other images: molluscum bodies
Cytology images
=========================================================================
Images: pap stain #1; #2
Electron microscopy images
=========================================================================
Viral particles
Additional references
=========================================================================
● eMedicine #1; #2
End of Penis and scrotum > Infectious disorders > Molluscum contagiosum
This information is intended for physicians and related personnel, who understand that medical information is often imperfect, and must also be interpreted in the context of a patient's clinical data using reasonable medical judgment. This website should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a licensed physician.
All information on this website is protected by copyright of PathologyOutlines.com, Inc. Information from third parties may also be protected by copyright. Please contact us at copyrightPathOut@gmail.com with any questions (click here for other contact information).