Inguinal patch in mpox (monkeypox) virus infection and eccrine syringometaplasia: report of two cases with in situ hybridization and electron microscopy findings

We report two cases of cutaneous mpox virus infection (formerly known as monkeypox), one of which presented with unusual clinical findings, and demonstrate their histopathological, RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) and ultrastructural characteristics. We observed in two patients with polymerase chain reaction-confirmed mpox virus infection squamous syringometaplasia of the eccrine ducts, a finding that can aid in recognizing this disease and is explained by the demonstration of viral mRNA within eccrine epithelium by ISH.

Automated summary

We report two cases of cutaneous mpox virus infection with unusual clinical findings and demonstrate their histopathological, RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) and ultrastructural characteristics. Squamous syringometaplasia of the eccrine ducts was observed in two patients with polymerase chain reaction-confirmed mpox virus infection, which can aid in recognizing the disease by demonstrating viral mRNA within eccrine epithelium by ISH.