Periocular molluscum contagiosum: six different clinical presentations

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Dermatology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a viral skin infection.
• Periocular involvement of MC can mimic other conditions.
• Understanding diverse clinical presentations is crucial for accurate diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To categorize and describe the distinct clinical presentations of periocular molluscum contagiosum.
• To analyze the epidemiological, clinical, and histopathological characteristics of these lesions.
• To highlight the varied presentations of MC in the ocular region.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records and histopathology of periocular MC cases.
• Data collection included patient demographics, lesion characteristics, and clinical presentation.
• Cases were treated at a specialized oculoplastic clinic over a 21-year period.

Main Results:

• Forty-one patients (19 males, 22 females) were included, with a mean age of 20.41 years.
• Six clinical presentations were identified: 'umbilicated nodular', 'big/giant', 'conglomerated', 'erythematous', 'inflamed', and 'pedunculated'.
• Only one patient was identified as immunosuppressed, indicating a broad age range and immune status affected.

Conclusions:

• This study is the first to label distinct clinical types of periocular MC lesions.
• MC should be suspected in immunocompetent patients of all ages presenting with periocular lesions.
• Early recognition of varied MC presentations can improve patient management and outcomes.