An Erythematous Plaque With Overlying Alopecia on the Scalp of a Child: Diagnosis

The histopathologic examination of a biopsy specimen from a child with an erythematous plaque and overlying alopecia on the scalp revealed numerous aggregates of epithelioid histiocytes and lymphocytic infiltrates. Additionally, numerous 2- to 4-μm round to oval organisms with kinetoplasts located at the periphery of vacuolated cytoplasms of macrophages were identified, consistent with amastigotes. The diagnosis for the patient's condition was cutaneous leishmaniasis.