Dissemination in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis I. Subcutaneous Nodules

In a study of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania major in Saudi Arabia, 10% of the patients were found to have subcutaneous nodules (5CN). The SCNs were usually inconspicuous, painless, and proximal to the primary skin lesions; when multiple, they showed a “sporotrichoid” configuration or appeared as “beaded cords.” Their number ranged from 1–16 (average 3.25 ± 2.50; mean ± 1 SD). In some patients, the SCNs seemed to be triggered by antileishmanial treatment. The clinical picture and pathologic findings suggest, that SCNs in patients with CL represent lymphatic dissemination, a phenomenon not widely recognized.