A Rare Cause of Pancytopenia From Lepromatous Leprosy Diagnosed in Bone Marrow Aspiration: A Bolt From the Blue

Cureus. 2024 Sep 11;16(9):e69223. doi: 10.7759/cureus.69223. eCollection 2024 Sep.

Abstract

Hansen's disease is caused by Mycobacterium leprae. The clinical presentation of lepromatous leprosy is broad, affecting patients with reduced T-cell immune response and causing anergy. Usually, the patient presents with numerous red to brown nodules over the face and auricles and is diagnosed by skin biopsy. We hereby report an unusual case of a 40-year-old man who presented with altered sensorium and fever. Lepromatous leprosy was diagnosed initially in the bone marrow aspiration without any clinical suspicion or previous skin biopsy confirmation. Bone marrow infiltration by lepra bacilli is very rare, with only a few cases reported in the literature so far.

Keywords: bone marrow aspirate; drug-induced pancytopenia; fite-faraco stain; foamy histiocytes; lepromatous leprosy; leprosy in bone marrow; mycobacterium leprae; pancytopenia; virchow cells.

Publication types

  • Case Reports