A 40-year-old patient presents with a large, hypopigmented anaesthetic plaque on the trunk with well-defined, raised, erythematous borders and satellite lesions. Slit-skin smear is negative. Nerve near the lesion shows inflammatory thickening. What is the Ridley-Jopling classification of this leprosy?
- A Borderline tuberculoid leprosy (BT) ✓
- B Indeterminate leprosy
- C Tuberculoid leprosy (TT)
- D Mid-borderline leprosy (BB)
Correct answer: A. Borderline tuberculoid leprosy (BT)
Explanation
Borderline tuberculoid (BT) leprosy features: asymmetric, hypopigmented/erythematous plaques with well-defined inner and outer edges, satellite lesions, and peripheral nerve involvement. Unlike TT (single lesion, very well-defined, no satellites), BT has multiple lesions with satellites and may show some smear positivity on biopsy sites. Negative slit-skin smear and presence of nerve thickening with satellites characterise BT in the paucibacillary-borderline zone.
Reference: Neena Khanna Illustrated Synopsis of Dermatology & STD, 6th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.