Publication:

Lepromatous leprosy Hansen’s mimicking histoid Hansen’s: a case report

Lepromatous leprosy (LL) represents the anergic pole of the leprosy spectrum and may rarely mimic histoid leprosy (HL). A 45-year-old man presented with multiple shiny umbilicated papules and nodules over normal skin resembling HL. Slit-skin smear revealed numerous solid-staining bacilli (BI 5+), and histopathology showed diffuse foamy macrophages without spindle cells, confirming LL. The patient responded to multibacillary multidrug therapy. This case emphasizes the clinical overlap between LL and HL and the importance of bacteriological and histopathological evaluation for accurate diagnosis and management to prevent misclassification and ensure effective treatment.