Localised cutaneous leishmaniasis in an immunosuppressed host: the role for adjuvant photodynamic therapy after incomplete amphotericin B response.
David Gaspar Caetano, Mariana Pedroso, João Teixeira et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
An immunocompromised man in his 70s presented with a 15-year verrucous plaque on the right hallux, initially misdiagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma. Histological examination revealed amastigotes, confirming cutaneous leishmaniasis due to the L. donovani complex. After partial regression with systemic liposomal amphotericin B, adjuvant photodynamic therapy was employed, leading to near-complete re-epithelialisation and functional recovery.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
This case highlights the necessity of early biopsy in atypical presentations of cutaneous leishmaniasis to avoid misdiagnosis.
Why it matters
The successful use of adjuvant photodynamic therapy in conjunction with amphotericin B suggests a potential treatment strategy for complex cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis.