MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM PRESENTING AS CELLULITIS IN AN AIDS PATIENT - CYTOLOGIC AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL FEATURES

This report describes the cytologic features of molluscum contagiosum presenting clinically as a left thigh abscess in a 29-yr-old male with AIDS. The fine-needle aspiration findings are correlated with the his tologic and ultrastructural findings. Molluscum contagiosum's clinical presentation, natural course, and induction of host immune responses in immunocompotent and immunosuppressed individuals as identified by l ight microscopy, immunocytochemically and ultrastructurally are review ed. Molluscum contagiosum presenting clinically and cytologically as a n abscess is unusual. In this report, we emphasize the inclusion of mo lluscum contagiosum in a differential diagnosis of an abscess, particu larly in immunosuppressed patients, and discuss the cytologic differen tial diagnoses. Diagn Cytopathol 1995;12:345-349. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.