Spontaneous Disappearance of Molluscum Contagiosum: Report of a Case

Abstract

In this paper the author summarizes some of the salient observations concerning the disappearance of warts: (1) As the methods of magic treatment for warts are identical in principle with the methods of treatment by suggestion, their results are also identical. (2) Magic treatment fortifies and supplements “suggestion” by employing mechanical manipulations causing trauma, which alone may cause the disappearance of warts. (3) Autohemotherapy is useful in the treatment for warts, even though it is not uniformly successful. (4) The disappearance of warts following the treatment by magic, by suggestion, by injection of the patient’s blood or of foreign protein derived from other sources, as well as the so-called spontaneous disappearance of warts, are causatively linked with a change in the host of the warts. (5) Unless the host overcomes all the invaders, the warts return sooner or later.

Case Details

Personal Characteristics

One of the authors of this report (c. S.), in good health, had a planar wart disappear from his foot after it had been present for 20 years. His son had molluscum contagiosum and, presumably, was the source of infection.

Clinical Characteristics

Papules developed on the chest. Scattered over the right side of the chest, there were approximately 50 tiny pearly papules each with a central dell. The lesions were typical of molluscum contagiosum. One papule became inflamed and exquisitely tender. The inflammation and tenderness subsided within a week, leaving a normal appearing skin site. During the next three months, multiple individual papules became inflamed and then healed. Gradually, all of the papules disappeared.

Remission Characteristics

The lesions left no scars. Three years after apparent cure, there had been no recurrence.

Treatment & Mechanisms

Proposed Remission Mechanisms

The histopathology was consistent with a cell-mediated rejection reaction. The histopathological appearance at an early stage of inflammation showed that the molluscum contagiosum architecture remains intact, but an inflammatory infiltrate is present. The infiltrate hugs the infected epidermis and is composed almost entirely of lymphocytes and histiocytes. The basal cells have become vacuolated. A few inflammatory cells have infiltrated between the infected epidermal cells. At a later stage of inflammation, a superficial ulcer develops, and a nest of degenerated cells containing molluscum bodies is extruded with the epidermal scale. The inflammatory reaction infiltrate is composed of mononuclear cells. At a still later stage, the scale loses any readily identifiable cells containing molluscum bodies, although clumps of large glassy epidermal cells, which may be infected, are present. The epidermis is regenerated and there is an initial reduction in the inflammatory cell infiltrate.

Clinical Treatment

It was thought that the disease might disappear spontaneously, so no therapy was undertaken.

Additional Notes

Five biopsy specimens were taken during the course of the disease. At the time of onset, a biopsy of a noninflamed papule, which had the typical histologic appearance of molluscum contagiosum, was done.