Trigeminal neuralgia--a presenting feature of facial leprosy.
Trigeminal neuralgia is a well recognized clinical entity. However, it has not been reported to mimic leprosy or vice versa. Of the 3 cases reported here, 2 initially presented with neuralgic symptoms similar to that seen in trigeminal neuralgia and later developed borderline lesions on the face. The 3rd case demonstrated a tingling sensation along with firm and palpable supraorbital nerve (a branch of trigeminal nerve), and a very early skin lesion on the face pointed to the need to consider neuritic type leprosy before concluding the final diagnosis of a disease like trigeminal neuralgia which calls for a different therapeutic approach.
Mishra
B
B
Bhopal Gas Disaster Research Centre, Gandhi Medical College campus, India.
Malaviya
G N
GN
Girdhar
A
A
Husain
S
S
Girdhar
B K
BK
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology*