Tuberculoid Leprosy in a Patient with a History of Hemochromatosis

Leprosy, a chronic infection of cutaneous and nervous tissue caused by Mycobacterium leprae, should be found early to avoid permanent sequelae. Leprosy can histologically mimic sarcoidosis due to the presence of noncaseating granulomas, so clinical pathologic diagnosis is imperative for early diagnosis. Clinically, the annular lesions of leprosy present with a peripheral pink elevated rim and may be mistaken for tinea corporis. M. leprae is a slow-growing bacterium and requires at least six months of Multidrug Therapy. Leprosy can be subtle, so we present a 53-year-old man with a single lesion caused by Tuberculoid leprosy on the left medial ankle. Due to this patient’s history of hemochromatosis, alteration in the Multidrug Treatment regimen with an extended treatment time of one year resolved symptoms without recurrence. Early diagnosis and appropriate therapy eliminated a potential progressive disability.

Keywords: Tuberculoid Leprosy, Hansen’s Disease, Paucibacillary, Mycobacterium leprae, Noncaseating granuloma, Hemochromatosis.