Histoid leprosy in North India.

Histoid lepro sy, originally described by Wade in 1960 (1 2) is generally regarded as a distinct clinico-pathological entity. It presents as cutaneous or subcutaneous nodular and / or plaque-like lesions arising from apparently normal skin. The lesions are characterized, histologically , by tumorous collections. of spindle-shaped cells arranged in a crisscross fashion giving them a resemblance to neurofibromata. The cells, unlike those of a neurofibroma, howeve r, contain a large number of acid-fast bacilli . Since Wade's first communication si milar cases have been reported from different parts of the world ( 2.4.6.7. 8.9. 10. II) confirming most of the features described by him. In the present communication we report the clinico-pathologic spectrum of 20 cases of histoid leprosy, observed over three years at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi , India.