Original article / research
Assessment of Dermoscopic Characteristics of Molluscum Contagiosum: A Cross-sectional Study
WC18-WC21
Correspondence
Dr. Manjeet Naresh Ramteke,
Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy,
Grant Government Medical College and Sir J.J, Group of Hospitals,
Mumbai-400008, Maharashtra, India.
e-mail: manjeetramteke@gmail.com
Introduction: Molluscum Contagiosum (MC) is a cutaneous viral infection caused by molluscipoxvirus, affecting children, sexually active adults and immunosuppressed individual. Although it is easily diagnosed clinically, it can be confused with other clinical entities. In addition, the diagnosis becomes difficult when it has a single lesion or associated with inflammation. Thus, dermoscopy which is a non invasive and inexpensive tool helps to determine the diagnosis of MC.
Aim: To evaluate the dermoscopic characteristics of MC and compare them with clinical presentation.
Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Outpatient Department (OPD) in the department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy at a tertiary care center at a Grant Government Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, for a period of 6 months from July 2025 to December 2025. Patients presenting with pearly white umbilicated papules and clinically suggestive of MC were included in the study. The patients’ history was recorded and examination done thoroughly and data such as the gender and age of the patient, the size of the lesions, the presence or absence of an orifice, vessels, inflammation and/or excoriation and perilesional eczema were recorded. A total of 33 patients with 161 lesions were included in the study. Dermoscopy was performed in 161 lesions from 33 patients where non vascular and vascular structures were noted in each lesion. Results were expressed in terms of frequency and percentage. Descriptive statistical analysis was done using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics version 17.0.
Results: A total of 33 patients with 161 lesions were included in the study. Of the 33 patients, 20 were males and 13 were females with mean age of 14.45±9.32 (range from 2 years to 32 years). The MC lesions were most frequently found on the face, trunk and upper extremities. The structures evaluated on dermoscopy included non vascular structures (whitish or yellowish structure) and vascular structures (crown, punctate, radial). On clinical and dermoscopy examination of 161 lesions, orifices were visualised in 100 and 161 of the lesions, and vessels in four and 72, respectively. The vascular patterns found in the 72 lesions on dermoscopy were the crown (23.60%), radial (11.18%) and punctiform patterns (9.93%).
Conclusion: The dermoscopic findings of MC were non vascular and vascular. Rounded structures were common (70.80%) in the non vascular structure. Crown vessels (23.60%) were the most common vascular pattern observed; however, no vascular structures were seen in 55.28% of the lesions. Dermoscopy in lesions of MC was found to be superior as compared to clinical examination and aids in diagnosis of unusual presentations of these lesions.