An unexpected leprosy diagnosis in Nordic patient with skin lesions

Arnhild Binde; Johannes Hendricus van der Stoep; Camilla Sivesind Mehlum; Monika Aneta Dzieniecka

doi:10.5114/pjp.2025.158044

eISSN: 2084-9869
ISSN: 1233-9687

Polish Journal of Pathology

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4/2025
vol. 76

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abstract:

Case report

An unexpected leprosy diagnosis in Nordic patient with skin lesions

Arnhild Binde

¹

,

Johannes Hendricus van der Stoep

¹

,

Camilla Sivesind Mehlum

²

,

Monika Aneta Dzieniecka

¹

Department of Pathology, Innlandet Hospital, Lillehammer, Norway
Department of Microbiology, Innlandet Hospital, Lillehammer, Norway

Pol J Pathol 2025; 76 (4): 355-359

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/pjp.2025.158044

Online publish date: 2026/02/23

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Leprosy is a rare chronic infectious disease that can be challenging to diagnose in non-endemic settings due to limited clinical experience among physicians and its marked clinical heterogeneity. We report the case of leprosy in a Nordic patient with an extensive travel history who presented with cutaneous lesions, nasal congestion, and peripheral neurological symptoms. Although the histopathological findings were not fully specific, modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining revealed numerous acid-fast bacilli within the tissue samples. Mycobacterium leprae was subsequently confirmed by molecular analyses. To minimise diagnostic delay and prevent disease progression, we provide an overview of the histopathological features of leprosy and discuss relevant differential diagnoses.

keywords:

An unexpected leprosy diagnosis in Nordic patient with skin lesions

Arnhild Binde 1 , Johannes Hendricus van der Stoep 1 , Camilla Sivesind Mehlum 2 , Monika Aneta Dzieniecka 1

leprosy, Mycobacterium leprae, skin lesions, peripheral neuropathy, dermatopathology

Arnhild Binde

¹

,

Johannes Hendricus van der Stoep

¹

,

Camilla Sivesind Mehlum

²

,

Monika Aneta Dzieniecka

¹