• Skeletal radiology · Jan 2017

    Case Reports

    Leprosy with ulnar nerve abscess: ultrasound findings in a child.

    • Helena Barbosa Lugão, Marco Andrey Cipriani Frade, Nilton Mazzer, Norma Tiraboschi Foss, and Marcello Henrique Nogueira-Barbosa.
    • Dermatology Division, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Campus Universitário, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14049-900, São Paulo, Brazil. helenalugao@hotmail.com.
    • Skeletal Radiol. 2017 Jan 1; 46 (1): 137-140.

    AbstractWe report the ultrasound findings of a typical case of nerve abscess due to leprosy in an 11-year-old boy. The patient had previously undergone pediatric multibacillary leprosy multidrug therapy (MDT) in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines. He presented to our service with bilateral ulnar neuritis with no response to prednisone (1 mg/kg). Right ulnar nerve ultrasound revealed nerve hypoechogenicity, fascicular pattern disorganization, marked fusiform thickening, and a round anechoic area suggestive of intraneural abscess. Intense intraneural power Doppler signal was detected, indicating active neuritis. Intravenous methylprednisolone had a poor response and the patient was submitted to ulnar nerve decompression, which confirmed nerve abscess with purulent discharge during surgery. As the patient weighed more than 40 kg, treatment with a pediatric dose was considered insufficient and adult-dose MDT was prescribed, with improvement of nerve pain and function. Although leprosy is rare in developed countries, it still exists in the USA and it is endemic in many developing countries. Leprosy neuropathy is responsible for the most serious complications of the disease, which can lead to irreversible impairments and deformities. Nerve abscess is an uncommon complication of leprosy and ultrasound can efficiently demonstrate this condition, allowing for prompt treatment. There is scant literature about the imaging findings of nerve abscess in leprosy patients. Radiologists should suspect leprosy in patients with no other known causes of neuropathy when detecting asymmetric nerve enlargement and nerve abscess on ultrasound.

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