Ulnar nerve sonography in leprosy neuropathy.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease, primarily affects peripheral nerves.
• Early diagnosis is crucial for preventing nerve damage and disability.
• Ultrasound is an emerging tool for peripheral nerve evaluation.

Observation:

• A 23-year-old woman presented with right forearm sensory and motor dysfunction.
• Ultrasound revealed ulnar nerve trunk thickening, hypoechogenicity, and increased vascularity.
• Histopathology confirmed granulomatous inflammation consistent with leprosy.

Findings:

• Sonographic features of ulnar nerve leprosy include nerve thickening and altered echogenicity.
• Color Doppler demonstrated significantly increased blood supply in the affected nerve.
• Histopathological analysis revealed granulomatous nodules with specific cellular infiltrates and vascular proliferation.

Implications:

• This case highlights characteristic ultrasound findings for diagnosing ulnar nerve leprosy.
• Increased awareness of these sonographic features can aid clinicians in identifying leprosy.
• Recognizing leprosy's neurological manifestations is vital, especially given its declining but persistent incidence.