Friend Philemon Liwanag
Southern Philippines Medical Center, Philippines
Title: De novo histoid leprosy manifesting over a tattoo site
Biography
Biography: Friend Philemon Liwanag
Abstract
Histoid leprosy is recognized as a rare form of leprosy with a heavy bacillary index. De novo is a peculiar type of histoid leprosy characterized as an initial clinical presentation without previous treatment with multidrug therapy. Further, published reports have shown the possible participation of skin other than respiratory droplets in leprosy transmission. We report a case of de novo histoid leprosy in a 30 year old man, who initially presented with a hyperpigmented papule which progressed into a shiny nodule over a tattoo site on his left upper arm. The lesions became generalized with symmetrical distribution. Histopathological studies revealed findings consistent with the diagnosis. Histoid leprosy was first described in the Philippines, which exemplifies the challenge to leprosy eradication. Thus, this finding that tattooing as likely cause of inoculation of histoid leprosy in this post-elimination era generates important consideration.