Vascular network tightly enclosing lesions of molluscum contagiosum: Basket-like capillaries of molluscum.
Immunohistochemical studies of one typical and two atypical cases of molluscum contagiosum with anti-CD34 monoclonal antibodies showed a tightly enclosing fine vasculature around the lesional masses of the disease. The thin interstitial septa between the lobules of the molluscum lesions also contained abundant endothelium. An electron microscopic study of a pinched-off lesion of common molluscum contagiosum demonstrated that the tightly enclosing blood vessels lacked muscle layers, suggesting that they were capillaries, being a distance of several hundred nanometers from the basal cells of the molluscum mass. A 3D constructed image of the vasculature confirmed a network of the vessels. These tightly enclosing vascular networks around the lesions of molluscum contagiosum support the rapid growth of this disease.
Horiguchi Clinic of Dermatology, Hirakata, Japan.
Yuji
Y
Horiguchi
Department of Information Design, Tama Art University, Tokyo, Japan.
Junshi
J
Horiguchi
Department of Pathology, Osaka Red Cross Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
Ken-Ichiro
KI
Maeno
D000293:Adolescent; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D002196:Capillaries / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D046169:Dermoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008976:Molluscum Contagiosum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008977:Molluscum contagiosum virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology
D018952:Antigens, CD34
CD34; basket-like capillaries; molluscum contagiosum; nutritional vessels; vascular network