Unusual histopathological features of cutaneous leishmaniasis identified by polymerase chain reaction specific for Leishmania on paraffin-embedded skin biopsies.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is rare in Northern Europe and may be overlooked because colleagues have little experience with it.

Objectives: To identify manifestations of CL that may escape diagnosis.

Methods: Correlation of clinical diagnosis and histopathological findings in 28 biopsy specimens taken from 19 patients with CL confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) specific for Leishmania.

[Erythema induratum Bazin. "Tuberculid" or tuberculosis?].

A 66-year-old woman presented with erythematous nodules on both legs and told of a history of lymph node tuberculosis that had been treated with surgery and tuberculostatic therapy years before. A biopsy taken from a nodule showed nodular vasculitis. PCR for Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific DNA on the paraffin-embedded tissue was positive.