Unveiling the clinico-dermoscopic and histopathological correlation of histoid leprosy: A case series

Histoid leprosy (HL), a bacillary rich form of leprosy, has unique clinical, bacteriological and histopathological characteristics. It is a rare form of leprosy often following monotherapy, drug resistance or irregular MDT, and rarely de novo. It poses a challenge in diagnosis as it mimics a variety of dermatological conditions. Early diagnosis and treatment of histoid leprosy is important to prevent community spread. During clinical examination of skin lesions, dermoscopy provides additional information, so it may play a major role in diagnosing early cases, even before a biopsy is done. In this article, we report a case series of clinical, histopathological and dermoscopic features in three patients with de novo HL, and two following irregular MDT.