RESUMO
A histopathological study of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis was carried out on 28 cutaneous and 114 mucosal biopsies, taken from Bolivian and Peruvian patients. This study showed similar histopathological findings in cutaneous and mucosal lesions. The cutaneous biopsies showed a strong epidermal hyperplasia occasionnally budding in the dermis. In the ulcerative area, the epidermis was totally necrosed and replaced by a fibrino-leucocytic edge. In the dermis, histio-lympho-plasmocytic infiltration was constantly found. The histiocytes often gathered in follicles sometimes with diffuse fibrosis. The parasites were encountered in 28.6 p. 100 of the biopsies. Whatever the mucosa concerned (i.e. nasal, palatal or lingual), the mucosal lesion was not different from the cutaneous lesion. The malpighian epithelium is either absent or the seat of a pseudo-epitheliomatous hyperplasia. Major histio-lympho-plasmocytic infiltration was found and extended through the depth of the lamina propria. Suppurative and fibrinoid necroses coexisted superficially and sometimes penetrated in depth. The parasites were found in about 30 p. 100 of the cases.
