Dermatoscopic evaluation of leprosy: A multi-centre cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Leprosy is a complex infectious disease known for its varied clinical presentations.
• Dermatoscopy, a non-invasive imaging technique, may offer diagnostic value for leprosy.
• Evaluating dermatoscopic findings across the leprosy spectrum is crucial for understanding its utility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and document dermatoscopic features observed in patients with leprosy.
• To assess the potential of dermatoscopy in classifying leprosy subtypes.
• To explore dermatoscopy's role in differentiating leprosy from other granulomatous skin conditions.

Main Methods:

• A multi-center, cross-sectional study involving 53 leprosy patients.
• Standardized cutaneous and neurological evaluations were performed.
• Representative skin lesions were photographed and analyzed using dermatoscopy.

Main Results:

• Key dermatoscopic findings included distorted pigment network (90.6%), focal white areas (75.5%), and reduced follicular openings (81.1%).
• Other observed features were widened skin lines (52.8%), circle hairs (28.3%), and white shiny streaks (32.1%).
• The study included patients across the leprosy spectrum, from indeterminate to lepromatous forms.

Conclusions:

• Dermatoscopy is a practical, non-invasive tool providing diagnostic clues for leprosy and its classification.
• Dermatoscopy alone cannot definitively differentiate between all leprosy types.
• Larger studies correlating dermatoscopic findings with histology are needed for further validation.