Labial, perioral, and oral molluscum contagiosum in pediatric patients: a multi-institutional case series and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To describe clinicopathological features, differential diagnosis, and management of pediatric labial, perioral, and oral molluscum contagiosum (MC) in light of the available literature. STUDY DESIGN: The present multi-institutional case series included pediatric patients from Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and the Dominican Republic. Four databases were searched for pediatric cases involving labial, perioral, and oral sites. Data were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: Four girls and two boys six to 15 years of age were included. All were asymptomatic. The lesions were solitary or multiple and mainly involved the lips and perioral skin; one patient had intraoral involvement. Differential diagnoses included verruca vulgaris, focal fibrous hyperplasia, and mucocele. Histopathologically, the lesions exhibited a lobulated epithelial proliferation with crater-like invaginations and keratinocytes containing Henderson-Paterson bodies. Management included excisional biopsy, topical cantharidin for cutaneous lesions, and observation or spontaneous regression; five cases had no recurrence. The search yielded 576 records and identified six studies comprising six cases. These included three boys and three girls aged eight months to 17 years. All had labial and/or perioral involvement; two had intraoral lesions. CONCLUSION: Pediatric labial, perioral, and oral MC is rare. Recognition of its clinicopathological spectrum may prevent misdiagnosis and support individualized conservative management.