Hansen's disease: a cause of lymphadenopathy in endemic areas

In this paper we report two unusual cases of leprosy, both presenting with lymphadenopathy as the initial manifestation of the disease. Lymphadenopathy was the dominant presenting complaint of the first patient in whom skin lesions were absent. A diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy was made only after a lymph node biopsy. Following this diagnosis neural involvement was evident. In the second patient the lymphadenopathy was associated with polyarthritis leading to a false clinical diagnosis of Still's disease. This unusual presentation in both cases led to a delay in the final diagnosis which was based on histopathological examination of lymph nodes. The clinical and histopathological features of both patients are discussed. Superficial nerves should be palpated in all patients presenting with lymphadenopathy in endemic areas.