TY - JOUR AU - Liegeon A-L AU - Reigneau M AU - Rivail J AU - Bauvin O AU - Cuny J-F AU - Schmutz J-L AB -

BACKGROUND: Leprosy continues to be present in certain regions throughout the world, and the dermatologist plays a central role in its diagnosis. Herein we report a case of tuberculoid leprosy that is atypical in terms of its linear presentation which appears to follow the lines of Blaschko.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A patient from Mayotte was referred to the neurological department for suspected tuberculoid leprosy. He was presenting a deficiency of the ulnar nerve together with neuronal hypertrophy and cutaneous involvement. Dermatological examination revealed linear hypo-aesthetic hypopigmented lesions on the arm and forearm. The atypical clinical presentation also suggested to us pigmented mosaicism or post-inflammatory pigmentation. The biopsy showed granulomatous epithelial dermatitis with perinervous involvement. Imaging examinations confirmed the presence of neuronal hypertrophy. A diagnosis of linear tuberculoid leprosy was made.

DISCUSSION: This case illustrates the need to bear in mind a diagnosis of leprosy in the event of hypopigmented lesions, even where they are linear and of Blaschkoid appearance. Several potential hypotheses may account for this particular topographical pattern.

BT - Annales de dermatologie et de venereologie C1 -

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25682518?dopt=Abstract

DO - 10.1016/j.annder.2015.01.005 J2 - Ann Dermatol Venereol LA - fre N2 -

BACKGROUND: Leprosy continues to be present in certain regions throughout the world, and the dermatologist plays a central role in its diagnosis. Herein we report a case of tuberculoid leprosy that is atypical in terms of its linear presentation which appears to follow the lines of Blaschko.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A patient from Mayotte was referred to the neurological department for suspected tuberculoid leprosy. He was presenting a deficiency of the ulnar nerve together with neuronal hypertrophy and cutaneous involvement. Dermatological examination revealed linear hypo-aesthetic hypopigmented lesions on the arm and forearm. The atypical clinical presentation also suggested to us pigmented mosaicism or post-inflammatory pigmentation. The biopsy showed granulomatous epithelial dermatitis with perinervous involvement. Imaging examinations confirmed the presence of neuronal hypertrophy. A diagnosis of linear tuberculoid leprosy was made.

DISCUSSION: This case illustrates the need to bear in mind a diagnosis of leprosy in the event of hypopigmented lesions, even where they are linear and of Blaschkoid appearance. Several potential hypotheses may account for this particular topographical pattern.

PY - 2015 T2 - Annales de dermatologie et de venereologie TI - [Linear tuberculoid leprosy along the lines of Blaschko: A very rare presentation.] TT - Lèpre tuberculoïde de disposition linéaire blaschkoïde : une présentation exceptionnelle SN - 0151-9638 ER -