Prominent eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions in melanocytes of a melanocytic nevus: the aftermath of an infection with molluscum contagiosum? A case report

A 65-year-old Latino man presented to his dermatologist for the removal of two melanocytic nevi from the back. The first nevus was removed from the right scapula and contained melanocytes with prominent eosinophilic nuclear inclusion bodies. The second nevus was removed from the paravertebral region, without evidence of inclusion bodies. Ultrastructurally, the inclusions in the first nevus contained dispersed finely granular, homogenous bodies without a limiting membrane. Immunohistochemistry characterized them as ubiquitin-positive material. Reverse transcriptase in situ polymerase chain reaction analysis was positive for molluscum-specific primers, suggesting that the inclusions encountered in the first nevus were secondary to a remote, local molluscum viral infection of melanocytes.