A 10-year-old child presents with multiple skin-colored, dome-shaped, firm papules with central umbilication over the trunk. Expressing the lesion yields a white, cheesy material. What is seen histologically in this material?

• A Henderson-Patterson bodies (molluscum bodies) ✓
• B Multinucleated giant cells
• C Koilocytes
• D Negri bodies

Explanation

Molluscum contagiosum is caused by a poxvirus (MCV types 1 and 2) and presents as dome-shaped papules with a characteristic central umbilication from which a plug of cheesy material can be expressed. This material contains large intracytoplasmic inclusions called Henderson-Patterson bodies (molluscum bodies), which represent the enlarged, virally infected cytoplasm of keratinocytes and are diagnostic on histology or cytology. Koilocytes are seen in HPV infection, and multinucleated giant cells are seen in herpetic infections.

Reference: Neena Khanna Illustrated Synopsis of Dermatology & STD, 6th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.