Histoid Hansens – The Current Perspective

Histoid leprosy, once thought to occur in patients on dapsonemonotherapy is a well recognised entity also occurring in patients after multidrug therapy, as well as denovo. Since it resembles many conditions like dermatofibromas, neurofibromas, molluscumcontagiosum, sarcoidosis etc., it is likely to be missed out and hence forms the reservoir of infection. Here we report 5 cases of denovohistoid leprosy out of whom 2 patients developed type 2 reaction. The diagnosis was confirmed by slit skin smears and histopathological examination. Keywords : denovo, histoid leprosy, spindle shaped cells, type 2 reaction.