Multiple molluscum contagiosum lesions in adults suggesting compromised immune system

Excerpt

A 47-year-old man came to our department with tiny papules on the forehead (Fig. 1a) and pale-colored nodules on the leg (Fig. 1b) and the gluteal areas (Fig. 1c). Two months before the visit, he had received a diagnosis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome. His CD4 lymphocyte count was 15 cells/µl with his CD4 percentage of 3.7% and viral load of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA was 540,000 copies/ml. Considering his clinical history and characteristic manifestations of dome-shaped papules or nodules with central umbilication, we diagnosed this case as molluscum contagiosum (MC). After the biopsy, the patient was treated with surgical excision for nodules and cryotherapy for tiny papules concomitantly with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Histopathology confirmed MC and no recurrence was found at 5-month follow-up (Fig. 2).

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