Elastophagocytosis in borderline tuberculoid leprosy: A rare case with diagnostic challenge and histopathological...

Leprosy, or Hansen's disease, is a chronic granulomatous infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae, with a broad spectrum of clinical and histopathological manifestations. Histological examination plays a pivotal role in accurately diagnosing its various subtypes. Elastophagocytosis (phagocytosis of elastic fibers by giant cells) is typically associated with annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma and other granulomatous conditions but has rarely been reported in leprosy. We report the case of an 85-year-old male who presented with a solitary, slowly enlarging annular plaque on the trunk. The lesion was asymptomatic and exhibited mild sensory loss without peripheral nerve involvement. Histopathological analysis of the skin biopsy showed granulomatous inflammation with Langhans-type giant cells and a striking feature of elastophagocytosis. Fite-Faraco staining confirmed the presence of acid-fast bacilli, establishing the diagnosis of borderline tuberculoid leprosy. The patient was treated with multibacillary multidrug therapy and demonstrated complete lesion resolution.