Two cases of neglected leishmaniasis with marked facial disfigurement: A diagnostic conundrum

Key Clinical MessageThere is a need to pay more attention to cutaneous leishmaniasis in endemic regions which may mimic other dermatoses and treatment should be initiated with a strong clinical suspicion even without any histopathologic or PCR confirmation to avoid disfigurement or development of secondary malignancy.AbstractLeishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease with a variety of Clinical manifestations. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common form of disease and can mimic other dermatoses. We describe two unusual cases of chronic leishmaniasis that remained undiagnosed for many years and led to superimposition of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on lesions of one patient. These reports showed that the leishmaniasis should be borne in mind by clinicians when encountering any infiltrated lesion in patients from endemic regions and treatment should be initiated with a strong clinical suspicion even without any histopathologic or PCR confirmation to avoid disfigurement or development of secondary malignancy. Facial disfigurement due to neglected leishmaniasis.image

Automated summary

More attention should be paid to cutaneous leishmaniasis in endemic regions, as it can mimic other dermatoses. Treatment should be initiated based on strong clinical suspicion, even without histopathologic or PCR confirmation, to prevent disfigurement or development of secondary malignancy.