​Evaluation of Leprosy Cases in Correlation of Histopathology and Demonstration of Lepra Bacilli: A Prospective Study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The main feature of the vast majority of leprosy biopsy specimens is a granulomatous infiltrate that has differentfeatures according to the form of leprosy, the time and site of the biopsy, the presence of a leprosy reaction, and therapy.Aim: This study aims to analyze the clinicohistopathological correlation in different types of leprosy.Materials and Methods: Skin biopsies were taken from clinically suspected patients. The tissue section was stained routinelyby hematoxylin and eosin. Aspecial stain like modified Fite-Faraco (FF) was done to demonstrate lepra bacilli. Histopathologicalfindings were graded into tuberculoid, borderline tuberculoid, midborderline, borderline lepromatous (BL), and lepromatous (LL),according to Ridley and Jopling scale. The clinicohistopathological correlation was done.Results: In 162 cases, 154 cases were confirmed as leprosy in histopathology. LL leprosy was more common 26.6% followedby BL leprosy 25.3%. In histopathologically confirmed leprosy cases, 103 cases (67.6%) were positive in FF stain.Conclusion: Some degree of overlap between different types of leprosy, both clinically and histopathologically, correlation ofclinical and histopathological features along with bacteriological index appears to be more useful for accurate typing of leprosythan considering any one of the single parameters alone.