Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: A Case Involving the Scalp - Clinical and Videodermoscopic Findings

Abstract

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a worldwide infectious disease caused by flagellate protozoa of the genus Leishmania. In America, the species most commonly responsible for CL are L. mexicana and L. brasiliensis. Usually, in America, it is transmitted by sand flies mainly of the genus Lutzomyia and Psychodopygus. CL most commonly affects exposed areas and is characterized by an erythematous infiltrated and ulcerated papular or nodular lesion. We report a 28-year-old male, with a 6-month history and a previous trip to the forest in the south of Mexico. He presented with an asymptomatic erythematous plaque on his scalp, with slow and progressive nodular lesions with central crusted ulceration, with a raised and well-defined border. On videodermoscopy, we observed erythematous gummy lesions, yellowish scabs, and white star, dotted, hairpin, and glomerular patterns of vessels.

Atypical Cutaneous Leishmaniasis by <i>Leishmania Mexicana</i>: A Case Report with Dermoscopic, Histopathological and Molecular Study

“…The most frequent findings were generalized erythema, yellows tears, white starburst-like patterns (localized parakeratotic hyperkeratosis around the lesions), irregular linear vessels, hairpin, coma [11]. The findings in our patient were punctate vessels and yellow tears [12].…”