Diagnostic utility of fine needle aspiration cytology of sensory cutaneous nerve in leprosy

  • Reena Naik MBBS, DNB (Pathology), Assistant Prof in Pathology, Govt Medical College (LSLAMMC), Raigarh, Chhattisgarh
  • Dilip Kumar Sa MD (Skin &VD), Asso Prof of Skin &VD , Govt Medical College(LSLAMMC), Raigarh, Chhattisgarh
  • Kishori Moni Panda MD (Pathology), Prof of Pathology, Govt Medical College(LSLAMMC), Raigarh, Chhattisgarh
Keywords: Peripheral neuropathy, Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), Hansen’s disease, lepra bacilli, sensory cutaneous nerve.

Abstract

Background: Peripheral neuropathy is a central feature of  leprosy. Intraneural inflammation caused by  M. leprae is the  morphological hallmark of this disease,  FNAC of sensory cutaneous nerve has proved to be a valuable diagnostic tool.Materials and methods: The data of patients with sensory cutaneous nerve involvement were retrieved from our record for the period from Nov 2014 to Sept 2015. The hematoxylin and eosin (H and E)- and May-Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG)-stained slides were screened for Schwann cells, granuloma, and necrosis. Modifi ed Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN)-stained smears were searched for single lepra bacilli and globi.Results: Twenty-five sensory cutaneous nerves were aspirated. Out of which 19 yielded diagnostic aspirate. Five cytologic pictures were seen - epithelioid cell granulomas (6), epithelioidcell granulomas with necrosis (3);necrosis + lepra bacilli (4); only lepra bacilli (2); and lymphocyte & macrophage infiltrate (4).Following the Ridley-Jopling classification, in our study there were 9 cases of TT, 4 of BT-TT, 1 of BB, 2 of BL, and 3 of LL. Conclusion: FNAC of sensory cutaneous nerve is useful in diagnosis and classification of leprosy on the R-J scale.DOI: 10.21276/APALM.1178

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Published
2017-04-07
Issue
Vol 4 No 2 (2017)
Section
Original Article

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