Nerve abscess in lepromatous leprosy. A case report and a discussion of pathogenesis.

An instance of nerve abscesses developing in a patient with lepromatous leprosy is reported. The pathogenesis of nerve abscess in lepromatous leprosy is briefly discussed. It appears that such abscesses may develop (i) from an ENL lesion in the nerve during ENL reaction, (ii) because of exacerbation of existing lepromatous lesion, (iii) arise as an "exacerbation nodule", (iv) due to quiet necrosis in a lepromatous granuloma, or (v) it may be iatrogenic.