Skin nontumor
Infectious disorders
CMV
Last author update: 1 July 2011
Last staff update: 9 November 2021
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PubMed Search: CMV [title] AND Cytomegalovirus [title]
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Epidemiology | Clinical features | Treatment | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Positive stainsCite this page: Hamodat M. CMV. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/skinnontumorcmv.html. Accessed February 4th, 2023.
Definition / general
- CMV belongs to the subgroup of beta herpesviruses
Epidemiology
- Like other members of the family Herpesviridae, CMV produces primary infections, latent infections and reinfections, although its site of latency is not known
Clinical features
- Postampicillin maculopapular eruption is most common clinical presentation
- Presents with urticaria, vesiculobullous lesions, pustular lesions and ulceration (including genital ulcers); also keratotic lesions, diaper dermatitis and even epidermolysis
- Rarely associated with erythema multiforme (J Cutan Med Surg 2011;15:115)
Treatment
- Ganciclovir, a guanosine analogue that selectively inhibits CMV DNA polymerase, may be used
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Nonspecific dermal infiltrate
- Characteristic changes are enlarged endothelial cells in small dermal vessels; nuclei contain large, eosinophilic inclusions surrounded by a clear halo; cytomegalic changes without nuclear inclusions have been reported
- May also be prominent neutrophilic infiltration of involved vessel walls, although an unequivocal leukocytoclastic vasculitis is quite rare
- Fibrocytes, macrophages and rarely ductal epithelial cells may harbor viral inclusions
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
CMV immunostain
Positive stains
- Monoclonal antibodies to CMV can confirm diagnosis in cases with unusual histopathological changes
- PCR-based methods are also available
