IJSRP, Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2013 Edition [ISSN 2250-3153]
Yogesh Tayade, N.V.Dravid, K.H.Suryawanshi, Sushil Mahajan, Rajeshwari K
Abstract:
Leprosy is one of the most common diseases of peripheral nerves. Pure neuritic leprosy constitutes about 4-10 % of all leprosy cases, clinically limited to the peripheral nerves without skin changes. Diagnosis of leprosy in absence of typical dermatological features is difficult and requires histopathological confirmation using nerve biopsy.
We report a case of leprosy without skin lesions. Nerve biopsy showed chronic inflammatory cell infiltration, epithelioid cell granulomas and presence of mycobacterium leprae on Modified Ziehl Neelson stain. Hence in leprosy prevalent countries like India, this form of leprosy should be thoroughly investigated especially in patient without skin changes.