Question
Identify the condition below and which of the following is its most characteristic microscopic finding?
| A. |
Intracellular inclusion bodies
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| B. |
Multinucleated cells
|
| C. |
Subepithelial Bullae
|
| D. |
Councilman body
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Show Answer
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Correct Answer � A
Explanation
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|
Ans. A. Intracellular inclusion bodies
(Ref: Robbins 9/e p1176; Fitzpatrick 6/e p2347)
- All findings are highly suggestive of Molluscum contagiosum, which is caused by the poxvirus.
Molluscum contagiosum:
- On microscopic examination, lesions show cuplike verrucous epidermal hyperplasia. The diagnostically specific structure is the molluscum body, which occurs as a large, ellipsoid, homogeneous, cytoplasmic inclusion in cells of the stratum granulosum and the stratum corneum.
- In H&E stain, these inclusions are eosinophilic in the blue-purple stratum granulosum and acquire a pale blue hue in the red stratum corneum.
- Numerous virions are present within molluscum bodies.
