Language

English

Publication Date

12-1-2025

Journal

Cureus

DOI

10.7759/cureus.98882

PMID

41523458

PMCID

PMC12784440

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

12-10-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

Objective: This case study aimed to explore primarily the keratinocytic changes of cutaneous viral infections caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and molluscum contagiosum (MC). The focus was on identifying features and diagnostic clues in cases without typical findings.

Methods: A retrospective analysis encompassing 14 HSV/VZV cases (January 2000 to October 2023) and 22 MC cases (January 2013 to December 2015) was conducted.

Results: In HSV/VZV cases, 71% (10 of 14) exhibited distinctive histopathological features in the adjacent keratinocytes, including nucleolar enlargement and atypical features. Immunohistochemical studies in 40% of the cases (4 of 10) revealed positive staining in cells with cytopathic changes and negative staining in adjacent atypical keratinocytes. Conversely, MC cases consistently demonstrate an enlarged, stuffed "pregnant seahorse appearance" of keratinocytes around molluscum bodies.

Conclusion: This study highlights the diagnostic significance of keratinocytic changes in these viral infections, allowing pathologists to perform additional studies to make the correct diagnosis in cases where typical viral changes are not readily apparent.

Keywords

cutaneous viral infections, hsv, molluscum contagiosum, viral infections of the skin, vzv

Published Open-Access

yes

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