Xianghe Wang, MD

Dermoscopy showed polylobular, whitish yellow, amorphous structures at the center of the lesion surrounded by a crown of vessels (Figure 1). Histopathology revealed hyperplastic crateriform lesions containing large eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies within keratinocytes (Figure 2). At follow-up 2 weeks after the biopsy, the patient presented with approximately 20 more reddish papules of varying sizes on the abdomen and back that presented as dome-shaped papules and had a typical umbilicated center. The clinical manifestations, dermoscopy, and pathology findings were consistent with molluscum contagiosum (MC).

Molluscum contagiosum was first described in 1814. It is a benign cutaneous infectious disease caused by a double-stranded DNA virus of the poxvirus family. Molluscum contagiosum lesions usually manifest clinically as dome-shaped, flesh-colored or translucent, umbilicated papules measuring 1 to 5 mm in diameter that are commonly distributed over the face, trunk, and extremities and usually are self-limiting.¹

Giant MC is rare and can be seen either in patients on immunosuppressive therapy or in those with diseases that can cause immunosuppression, such as human immunodeficiency virus, leukemia, atopic dermatitis, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and sarcoidosis. In these instances, MC often is greater than 1 cm in diameter. Atypical variants may have an eczematous presentation or a lesion with secondary abscess formation and also can be spread widely over the body.² Due to these atypical appearances and large dimensions in immunocompromised patients, other dermatologic diseases should be considered in the differential diagnosis, such as basal cell carcinoma, keratoacanthoma, squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous horn, cutaneous cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, and xanthomatosis.³

In our patient, the differential diagnosis included keratoacanthoma, which may present as a solitary, discrete, round to oval, flesh-colored, umbilicated nodule with a central keratin-filled crater and has a rapid clinical evolution, usually regressing within 4 to 6 months.

Squamous cell carcinoma may appear as scaly red patches, open sores, warts, or elevated growths with a central depression and may crust or bleed. Basal cell carcinoma typically may appear as a dome-shaped skin nodule with visible blood vessels or sometimes presents as a red patch similar to eczema. Xanthomatosis often appears as yellow to orange, mostly asymptomatic, supple patches or plaques, usually with sharp and distinctive edges.

Ancillary diagnostic modalities such as dermoscopy may be used to improve diagnostic accuracy. The best known capillaroscopic feature of MC is the peripheral crown of vessels in a radial distribution. A study of 258 MC lesions highlighted that crown and crown plus radial arrangements are the most common vascular structure patterns under dermoscopy. In addition, polylobular amorphous white structures in the center of the lesions tend to be a feature of larger MC papules.⁴ Histologically, MC shows lobulated crateriform lesions, thickening of the epidermis into the dermis, and the typical appearance of large eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies within keratinocytes.⁵

There are several treatment options available for MC. Common modalities include liquid nitrogen cryospray, curettage, and electrocauterization. In immunocompromised patients, MC lesions usually are resistant to ordinary therapy. The efficacy of topical agents such as imiquimod, which can induce high levels of IFN-α and other cytokines, has been demonstrated in these patients.⁶ Cidofovir, a nucleoside analog that has potent antiviral properties, also can be included as a therapeutic option.³ Our patient’s largest MC lesion was treated with surgical excision, the 2 large lesions on the left side of the chest with cryotherapy, and the other small lesions with curettage.

Dermoscopy showed polylobular, whitish yellow, amorphous structures at the center of the lesion surrounded by a crown of vessels (Figure 1). Histopathology revealed hyperplastic crateriform lesions containing large eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies within keratinocytes (Figure 2). At follow-up 2 weeks after the biopsy, the patient presented with approximately 20 more reddish papules of varying sizes on the abdomen and back that presented as dome-shaped papules and had a typical umbilicated center. The clinical manifestations, dermoscopy, and pathology findings were consistent with molluscum contagiosum (MC).

Molluscum contagiosum was first described in 1814. It is a benign cutaneous infectious disease caused by a double-stranded DNA virus of the poxvirus family. Molluscum contagiosum lesions usually manifest clinically as dome-shaped, flesh-colored or translucent, umbilicated papules measuring 1 to 5 mm in diameter that are commonly distributed over the face, trunk, and extremities and usually are self-limiting.¹

Giant MC is rare and can be seen either in patients on immunosuppressive therapy or in those with diseases that can cause immunosuppression, such as human immunodeficiency virus, leukemia, atopic dermatitis, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and sarcoidosis. In these instances, MC often is greater than 1 cm in diameter. Atypical variants may have an eczematous presentation or a lesion with secondary abscess formation and also can be spread widely over the body.² Due to these atypical appearances and large dimensions in immunocompromised patients, other dermatologic diseases should be considered in the differential diagnosis, such as basal cell carcinoma, keratoacanthoma, squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous horn, cutaneous cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, and xanthomatosis.³

In our patient, the differential diagnosis included keratoacanthoma, which may present as a solitary, discrete, round to oval, flesh-colored, umbilicated nodule with a central keratin-filled crater and has a rapid clinical evolution, usually regressing within 4 to 6 months.

Squamous cell carcinoma may appear as scaly red patches, open sores, warts, or elevated growths with a central depression and may crust or bleed. Basal cell carcinoma typically may appear as a dome-shaped skin nodule with visible blood vessels or sometimes presents as a red patch similar to eczema. Xanthomatosis often appears as yellow to orange, mostly asymptomatic, supple patches or plaques, usually with sharp and distinctive edges.

Ancillary diagnostic modalities such as dermoscopy may be used to improve diagnostic accuracy. The best known capillaroscopic feature of MC is the peripheral crown of vessels in a radial distribution. A study of 258 MC lesions highlighted that crown and crown plus radial arrangements are the most common vascular structure patterns under dermoscopy. In addition, polylobular amorphous white structures in the center of the lesions tend to be a feature of larger MC papules.⁴ Histologically, MC shows lobulated crateriform lesions, thickening of the epidermis into the dermis, and the typical appearance of large eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies within keratinocytes.⁵

There are several treatment options available for MC. Common modalities include liquid nitrogen cryospray, curettage, and electrocauterization. In immunocompromised patients, MC lesions usually are resistant to ordinary therapy. The efficacy of topical agents such as imiquimod, which can induce high levels of IFN-α and other cytokines, has been demonstrated in these patients.⁶ Cidofovir, a nucleoside analog that has potent antiviral properties, also can be included as a therapeutic option.³ Our patient’s largest MC lesion was treated with surgical excision, the 2 large lesions on the left side of the chest with cryotherapy, and the other small lesions with curettage.

Dermoscopy showed polylobular, whitish yellow, amorphous structures at the center of the lesion surrounded by a crown of vessels (Figure 1). Histopathology revealed hyperplastic crateriform lesions containing large eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies within keratinocytes (Figure 2). At follow-up 2 weeks after the biopsy, the patient presented with approximately 20 more reddish papules of varying sizes on the abdomen and back that presented as dome-shaped papules and had a typical umbilicated center. The clinical manifestations, dermoscopy, and pathology findings were consistent with molluscum contagiosum (MC).

Molluscum contagiosum was first described in 1814. It is a benign cutaneous infectious disease caused by a double-stranded DNA virus of the poxvirus family. Molluscum contagiosum lesions usually manifest clinically as dome-shaped, flesh-colored or translucent, umbilicated papules measuring 1 to 5 mm in diameter that are commonly distributed over the face, trunk, and extremities and usually are self-limiting.¹

Giant MC is rare and can be seen either in patients on immunosuppressive therapy or in those with diseases that can cause immunosuppression, such as human immunodeficiency virus, leukemia, atopic dermatitis, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and sarcoidosis. In these instances, MC often is greater than 1 cm in diameter. Atypical variants may have an eczematous presentation or a lesion with secondary abscess formation and also can be spread widely over the body.² Due to these atypical appearances and large dimensions in immunocompromised patients, other dermatologic diseases should be considered in the differential diagnosis, such as basal cell carcinoma, keratoacanthoma, squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous horn, cutaneous cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, and xanthomatosis.³

In our patient, the differential diagnosis included keratoacanthoma, which may present as a solitary, discrete, round to oval, flesh-colored, umbilicated nodule with a central keratin-filled crater and has a rapid clinical evolution, usually regressing within 4 to 6 months.

Squamous cell carcinoma may appear as scaly red patches, open sores, warts, or elevated growths with a central depression and may crust or bleed. Basal cell carcinoma typically may appear as a dome-shaped skin nodule with visible blood vessels or sometimes presents as a red patch similar to eczema. Xanthomatosis often appears as yellow to orange, mostly asymptomatic, supple patches or plaques, usually with sharp and distinctive edges.

Ancillary diagnostic modalities such as dermoscopy may be used to improve diagnostic accuracy. The best known capillaroscopic feature of MC is the peripheral crown of vessels in a radial distribution. A study of 258 MC lesions highlighted that crown and crown plus radial arrangements are the most common vascular structure patterns under dermoscopy. In addition, polylobular amorphous white structures in the center of the lesions tend to be a feature of larger MC papules.⁴ Histologically, MC shows lobulated crateriform lesions, thickening of the epidermis into the dermis, and the typical appearance of large eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies within keratinocytes.⁵

There are several treatment options available for MC. Common modalities include liquid nitrogen cryospray, curettage, and electrocauterization. In immunocompromised patients, MC lesions usually are resistant to ordinary therapy. The efficacy of topical agents such as imiquimod, which can induce high levels of IFN-α and other cytokines, has been demonstrated in these patients.⁶ Cidofovir, a nucleoside analog that has potent antiviral properties, also can be included as a therapeutic option.³ Our patient’s largest MC lesion was treated with surgical excision, the 2 large lesions on the left side of the chest with cryotherapy, and the other small lesions with curettage.