[Disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis].

A 54-year-old Japanese man suffering from disseminated oriental sore with extensive, numerous lesions consisting of nodules, tumors, and infiltrated erythema on the face, neck, trunk, distal portions of the extremities, and the tongue was observed. The disease may have been acquired in China and was characterized by a long incubation period of about 13 years and long duration for over 15 years without spontaneous ulceration, involution, or healing. Examinations revealed normal physical findings and laboratory and immunological results. Repeated animal inoculations and cultures using NNN-medium failed to isolate an etiologic organism. The patient recovered completely following i.v. injections of amphotericin B in a total dose of 880 mg for 1 month. Therefore, it may be conceivable that the disease was caused by a hitherto unknown, variant strain of Leishmania tropica.