Pure neural leprosy presenting with multiple nerve abscesses

A 22-year-old male student presented to us with patchy sensory loss over the dorsum of right foot of 6 months' duration and swelling over the left index finger of 2 months' duration. Subsequently, a week later, he developed a painful swelling over the left forehead and right leg. On examination, tender soft, fluctuant subcutaneous saccular swellings were seen varying in size from 2x2 cm to 5x5 cm over the left supratrochlear, left radial cutaneous nerve, left digital nerve, right superficial peroneal nerve and left saphenous nerve. The nerves were tender and thickened above and below these cold swellings (cold nerve abscesses). Nerve biopsy of the left radial cutaneous nerve showed granulomatous infiltrate of epithelioid cells, lymphocytes and caseation necrosis of nerve. No bacilli were demonstrated with acid-fast stain. On the basis of the above findings, a diagnosis of pure neuritic leprosy (BT spectrum) in type 1 lepra reaction with multiple nerve abscesses was made. We present this case of pure neuritic leprosy exhibiting multiple nerve abscesses, for its rarity.