Molluscum Contagiosum:
A middle aged patient presented with dome shaped papules on her skin.
Molluscum contagiosum occurs most frequently in the pediatric age group and consists of a variable number of small, skin-colored, dome-shaped pearly papules with a dimpled center. The size of the papules ranges from 2 to 4 mm in size. Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a viral infection of the skin and spreads through direct contact or shared items such as clothing or towels. Scratching the bumps may lead to spread of the infection.
Molluscum contagiosum is contagious until the bumps are gone-which, if untreated, may be up to 6 months or longer. The patient may develop the lesions from 2 weeks to 6 months after exposure.
Histopathology:
The epidermis is usually acanthotic and thickened. Many epidermal cells contain large, ovoid eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies as seen in the picture.
In the center of the lesion, the stratum corneum disintegrates and releases the molluscum eosinphilic bodies to form the central crater.
Molluscum lesions may go away on their own; however treatment may be required in some cases.
For more information on this subject, go to http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/molluscum-contagiosum/DS00672.