A Study of the Histopathologic Changes of the Nasal Mucosa in the Patients with Leprosy

Kim, Hyang Bae; Kim, Myong Yol

Abstract

The route of transmission of leprosy is still unclear, Recently some authors proposed ge possibility that the bacilli discharged from nasal mucosa might be the source of infection in leprosy. This study was undertaken to evaluate the histopathologic findings of nasal mucosa in 24 fresh untreated patients with leprosy using hematoxyline and eosin stain, and Ziehl-Neelsen stain. Among 24 cases. under clinical observation, 10 cases(41,7%) complain of nasal stuffiness, 8 cases (33. 3%) has congestion, 1 case(4. 2%) was crusted and 1 case(4.2%) was ulcerated. 2 Bacterial index of nasal mucosal smear showed that 16 cases were positive, - 15 cases were 1+, 7 cases were 2+, 2 cases 3+ and 1 case was 4+ Linder H.E. stain, the histopathologic findings of (he inferior turbinate of nasal mucosa showed that 22 cases were cystic dilatation of mucous glands, 1) cases were granuloma with foamy cells cells and 14 cases were epidermal atrophy. TJnder Ziehl-Neelsen stain bacterial index of nasal mucosal biopsy showed that 21 cases were positive 3 cases were 3+, 7 cases were 4+6 cases were 5+ and 5 cases were 6+. As above results, the histopathologic findings of nasal mucosa were similar to the skin lesions of leprosy.