Lepromatous leprosy: a case simulating verrucous carcinoma

A 59-year-old immigrant from China presented with a rapidly-enlarging exophytic growth on his left heel for 4 months. He was also found to have peripheral neuropathy, Charcot's joint, diffuse erythematous papules and acquired ichthyosis. Classical histologic features of leprosy were noted, together with atypical verrucoid proliferation. The diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy was made after clinical-pathological correlation and confirmation by polymerase chain reaction.