Ultrasonographic Features of Ulnar Nerve Affected by Hansen's Disease.

Abstract

Leprosy continues to be a major public health problem in some areas of our country. It predominantly afflicts peripheral nerves and skin and may lead to deformities. Social stigma as a result of deformities further plagues the situation. Prompt and early diagnosis coupled with adequate treatment, concurrent rehabilitative strategies if deformities do occur, and health education help to control the problem. Definitive diagnosis of leprosy has traditionally been based on assessment of slit skin smears (SSS) after AFB-staining and characteristic histopathology after biopsyof the lesion. However, recently, thickening of the peripheral nerves has been demonstrated by ultrasonography and this can be used as a sensitive tool to assess and measure enlargement of peripheral nerves, which are hallmarks for leprosy especially in clinical settings. In this report, the ultrasonographic findings of ulnar nerve enlargement due to leprosy in a fourteen-year-old male patient are described.