Molluscum contagiosum - A case report with fine needle aspiration cytologic diagnosis and ultrastructural features

BACKGROUND: Cytomorphologic and ultrastructural features of molluscum conta giosum, a rare skin lesion of viral etiology, are presented. CASE: A 4-month-old female was referred for fine needle aspiration cytology of papules over the back and chest wall. A Giemsa-stained preparation of w hitish material aspirated. from the chest wall nodule showed numerous large , intracytoplasmic, basophilic bodies that pushed the host cell nucleus to the periphery, giving a signet-ring appearance to a few cells. A cytologic diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum was suggested. On electron microscopy nu merous intracytoplasmic viral particles were demonstrated, thus confirming the cytologic diagnosis. CONCLUSION: In clinically unsuspected cases, the cytologic diagnosis of mol luscum contagiosum can be suggested by demonstrating pathognomonic molluscu m bodies in aspirated material.