Molluscum Contagiosum Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Ashish C Bhatia, MD, FAAD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 5, 2012
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

The cutaneous manifestations of other opportunistic infections, such as cutaneous cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, and aspergillosis, may mimic molluscum contagiosum and must be ruled out in immunocompromised hosts. (See the images below.)

This lesion of cutaneous coccidioidomycosis could This lesion of cutaneous coccidioidomycosis could be included among the differential diagnoses of molluscum contagiosum. This keratoacanthoma could be included among the dThis keratoacanthoma could be included among the differential diagnoses of molluscum contagiosum.

Molluscum contagiosum may be randomly associated with other lesions, such as epidermal cysts, nevocellular nevi, sebaceous hyperplasias, and Kaposi sarcoma. Pseudocystic molluscum contagiosum, giant molluscum contagiosum, and molluscum contagiosum associated with other lesions are responsible for frequent clinical misdiagnoses.

Infection of children through sexual abuse is possible; however, to a greater extent than warts, molluscum contagiosum virus is quite common on the genital, perineal, and surrounding skin of children.[20, 21] Regard abuse as unlikely, unless other suspicious features are present.

Histologic or microscopic confirmation of molluscum contagiosum is indicated in patients who are immunocompromised because several life-threatening opportunistic infections may clinically mimic molluscum contagiosum.

Conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum include the following:

  • Keratoacanthoma
  • Verruca vulgaris (warts)
  • Eccrine poroma
  • Epidermal cyst
  • Foreign body granuloma
  • Lichen planus
  • Flat warts (verruca plana)
  • Pyoderma

Perforating disorders (all very rare in children) to consider in the differential diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum include the following:

  • Acquired reactive perforating dermatosis of renal failure
  • Kyrle disease
  • Perforating serpiginous elastoma
  • Perforating folliculitis
  • Verrucous perforating collagenoma
  • Perforating granuloma annulare

Differential diagnoses to consider in patients with AIDS include the following:

  • Cutaneous cryptococcus[22] - Cutaneous cryptococcus presents as molluscumlike eruptions (on the face, it often has a very dramatic appearance); the patient may have few or no other symptoms associated with cryptococcal meningitis
  • Cutaneous coccidioidomycosis
  • Cutaneous histoplasmosis
  • Cutaneous aspergillosis

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Ashish C Bhatia, MD, FAAD  Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine; Medical Director for Dermatologic Research, Department of Clinical Research, DuPage Medical Group; Co-Director of Dermatologic, Laser and Cosmetic Surgery, The Dermatology Institute of DuPage Medical Group

Ashish C Bhatia, MD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and Connective Tissue Oncology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Mark A Crowe, MD  Assistant Clinical Instructor, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Mark A Crowe, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and North American Clinical Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Carissa N Beatty, MPH Program Manager, Tobacco Technical Assistance Consortium

Carissa N Beatty, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Public Health Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Ashish C Bhatia, MD, FAAD Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine; Director of Clinical Research, Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery; Director of Dermatologic Surgery and Dermatology, The Dermatology Institute of DuPage Medical Group

Ashish C Bhatia, MD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and Connective Tissue Oncology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David F Butler, MD Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Tracy Campbell, MD Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, Rush Medical Center

Tracy Campbell, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Chicago Dermatological Society, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Edward F Chan, MD Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Edward F Chan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mark W Cobb, MD Consulting Staff, WNC Dermatological Associates

Mark W Cobb, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, and American Society of Dermatopathology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Kevin P Connelly, DO Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of General Pediatrics and Emergency Care, Virginia Commonwealth University; Medical Director, Paws for Health Pet Visitation Program of the Richmond SPCA; Pediatric Emergency Physician, Emergency Consultants Inc, Chippenham Medical Center

Kevin P Connelly, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, and American Osteopathic Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Burke A Cunha, MD Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital

Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Seth Forman, MD Private Practice, Tampa, Florida

Seth Forman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Abbott Laboratories Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Catharine Lisa Kauffman, MD, FACP Georgetown Dermatology and Georgetown Dermpath

Catharine Lisa Kauffman, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Royal Society of Medicine, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John W King, MD Professor of Medicine, Chief, Section of Infectious Diseases, Director, Viral Therapeutics Clinics for Hepatitis, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center; Consultant in Infectious Diseases, Overton Brooks Veterans Affairs Medical Center

John W King, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society for Microbiology, Association of Subspecialty Professors, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Sigma Xi

Disclosure: emedicine $50.00 author of chapter; MERCK None Other

Daniel R Lucey, MD, MPH Chief, Fellowship Program Director, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington Hospital Center; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Daniel R Lucey, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American College of Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Julia R Nunley, MD Professor, Program Director, Dermatology Residency, Department of Dermatology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center

Julia R Nunley, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, American Society of Nephrology, International Society of Nephrology, Medical Dermatology Society, Medical Society of Virginia, National Kidney Foundation, Phi Beta Kappa, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Novartis Grant/research funds Consulting; Biolex Grant/research funds sub-investigator

Robert Orenstein, DO Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University; Medical Director, Infectious Disease Clinic, Medical College of Virginia Hospitals

Robert Orenstein, DO is a member of the following medical societies: Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David Rowe, MD Pathologist, Laboratory Medicine, Martha Jefferson Hospital

David Rowe, MD is a member of the following medical societies: United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Sigma Xi

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sung W Yoon, MD, Fellow, Department of Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic at Scottsdale

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Carissa N Beatty, MPH Program Manager, Tobacco Technical Assistance Consortium

Carissa N Beatty, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Public Health Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Ashish C Bhatia, MD, FAAD Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine; Director of Clinical Research, Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery; Director of Dermatologic Surgery and Dermatology, The Dermatology Institute of DuPage Medical Group

Ashish C Bhatia, MD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and Connective Tissue Oncology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David F Butler, MD Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Tracy Campbell, MD Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, Rush Medical Center

Tracy Campbell, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Chicago Dermatological Society, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Edward F Chan, MD Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Edward F Chan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mark W Cobb, MD Consulting Staff, WNC Dermatological Associates

Mark W Cobb, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, and American Society of Dermatopathology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Kevin P Connelly, DO Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of General Pediatrics and Emergency Care, Virginia Commonwealth University; Medical Director, Paws for Health Pet Visitation Program of the Richmond SPCA; Pediatric Emergency Physician, Emergency Consultants Inc, Chippenham Medical Center

Kevin P Connelly, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, and American Osteopathic Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Burke A Cunha, MD Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital

Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Seth Forman, MD Private Practice, Tampa, Florida

Seth Forman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Abbott Laboratories Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Catharine Lisa Kauffman, MD, FACP Georgetown Dermatology and Georgetown Dermpath

Catharine Lisa Kauffman, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Royal Society of Medicine, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John W King, MD Professor of Medicine, Chief, Section of Infectious Diseases, Director, Viral Therapeutics Clinics for Hepatitis, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center; Consultant in Infectious Diseases, Overton Brooks Veterans Affairs Medical Center

John W King, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society for Microbiology, Association of Subspecialty Professors, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Sigma Xi

Disclosure: emedicine $50.00 author of chapter; MERCK None Other

Daniel R Lucey, MD, MPH Chief, Fellowship Program Director, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington Hospital Center; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Daniel R Lucey, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American College of Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Julia R Nunley, MD Professor, Program Director, Dermatology Residency, Department of Dermatology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center

Julia R Nunley, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, American Society of Nephrology, International Society of Nephrology, Medical Dermatology Society, Medical Society of Virginia, National Kidney Foundation, Phi Beta Kappa, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Novartis Grant/research funds Consulting; Biolex Grant/research funds sub-investigator

Robert Orenstein, DO Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University; Medical Director, Infectious Disease Clinic, Medical College of Virginia Hospitals

Robert Orenstein, DO is a member of the following medical societies: Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David Rowe, MD Pathologist, Laboratory Medicine, Martha Jefferson Hospital

David Rowe, MD is a member of the following medical societies: United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Sigma Xi

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sung W Yoon, MD, Fellow, Department of Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic at Scottsdale

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Note the central umbilication in these classic lesions of molluscum contagiosum.
Approximately 10% of patients develop eczema around lesions. Eczema associated with molluscum lesions spontaneously subsides following removal.
Molluscum contagiosum on the shaft of the penis. Molluscum contagiosum in the genital region of adults is most commonly acquired as a sexually transmitted disease.
Larger lesions may have several clumps of molluscum bodies rather than the more common single central umbilication. This may make them difficult to recognize as molluscum contagiosum.
Molluscum lesions may become quite numerous in intertriginous areas. This child has autoinoculated lesions to both inner thighs.
After trauma, or spontaneously after several months, inflammatory changes result in suppuration, crusting and eventual resolution of the lesion. This inflammatory stage does not usually represent secondary infection and seldom requires antibiotic therapy.
Lesions of molluscum contagiosum have a characteristic histopathology. Lobules containing hyalinized molluscum bodies, also known as Henderson-Paterson bodies, are diagnostic.
This lesion of cutaneous coccidioidomycosis could be included among the differential diagnoses of molluscum contagiosum.
This keratoacanthoma could be included among the differential diagnoses of molluscum contagiosum.
Lesions on the upper eyelid of a 3-year-old child.
In a patient who had preexisting molluscum contagiosum, the virus was inoculated along a line of minor skin trauma, resulting in the development of the 3 new lesions.
Molluscum contagiosum on the right axilla.
Presented here are the classic umbilicated papules of molluscum contagiosum lesions on the cheek of a child. Facial lesions occur frequently in children, although lesions generally are few.
Molluscum contagiosum rarely occurs on the face in an adult unless the patient is infected with HIV. When molluscum contagiosum occurs in individuals infected with HIV, facial lesions are common and frequently numerous.
Molluscum contagiosum lesions in individuals infected with HIV may number in the hundreds. In addition, they may become quite large and prominent.
This low-power view of a molluscum contagiosum lesion shows the classic cup-shaped invagination of the epidermis into dermis. The Henderson-Paterson bodies are identified readily and stained purple to red in this image.
This is a medium-power view of a molluscum contagiosum lesion. Magnification allows better demonstration of the intracytoplasmic molluscum bodies (staining purple-pink) within the keratinocytes.
This molluscum contagiosum body is an intracytoplasmic inclusion body. Notice in the image that the keratinocyte nuclei are displaced to the periphery of the cell and that the intracytoplasmic inclusions have a granular quality.
Multiple papules on the face of a man with HIV.
Cytoplasmic viral inclusions become progressively larger toward the epidermal surface (hematoxylin and eosin, 200X)
Low-power histopathologic examination reveals an overall cup-shaped appearance.
Viral particles have a dumbbell-shaped appearance. Courtesy of Alvin Zelickson, MD.
 
 
 
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