ABSTRACT
Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a common viral infection, frequent in the paediatric population, sexually active adults, and immunocompromised individuals. MC is caused by the Molluscum contagiosum virus a double-stand DNA, epidermotropic virus which belongs to the Poxviridae family. In some cases, the lesions may have an erythematous halo or may be pedunculated. Differential diagnosis of genital MC includes several dermatological conditions such as viral warts, melanocytic nevi, Fordyce's spots, syringoma, lymphangioma, angiokeratoma, and pyogenic granuloma. However, sometimes the lesions have a different morphology or unusual body location, and the diagnosis may be more difficult. Besides dermoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy, which reveals microscopic details closely related to histopathology, may represent an adjunctive non-invasive diagnostic option for difficult cases. Vessels are usually visible at the periphery of the lesions with different arrangements, namely crown, radial, and/or dotted patterns. The virus is transmitted through direct sexual or non-sexual skin contact with an infected individual, or by autoinoculation.
