FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY OF LEPROMATOUS LEPROSY

A prospective study correlating cytopathology with clinical morphology and histopathology in 22 patients with lepromatous leprosy was perfor med. Aspirates were taken from skin lesions in all patients. Lymph nod e aspirates were also performed in four patients with lymphadenopathy. Fine-needle aspirates yielded sufficient cellular material with excel lent preservation of morphological detail. Diagnosis and correlation w ith bacillary index, clinical and histopathological findings was possi ble in all patients. In addition, the two patterns, partial and diffus e, of lymph node involvement could be recognized. Fine-needle aspirati on cytology is a simple method for the laboratory assessment of lepros y.