Molluscum cantagiosum is caused by the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) and leads to the formation of "molluscum bodies" in the epidermis above the stratum basale.

The micrograph shows molluscum bodies, which consist of large cells with:

• abundant granular eosinophilic cytoplasm (which contain accumulated virons), and
• a small peripheral nucleus.

Molluscum bodies may vaguely resemble signet ring cells, but

• the cytoplasm is eosinophilic and granular (as opposed to usually being clear),
• the nucleus usually smaller than in signet ring cell, and
• molluscum bodies are only in the epidermis (an uncommon place to find SRCs without finding them elsewhere).

• Image:molluscum contagiosum low mag.jpg - low magnification.