NEURITIC HANSENS-DISEASE - AN UNUSUAL PRESENTATION AND A DIAGNOSTIC CHALLENGE ON FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATE

Fine-needle aspiration cytology is now routinely used in the diagnosis of cervical lumps. We report on a case of leprous neuritis which pres ented as a cervical swelling. A diagnosis of leprosy was suggested on the basis of globi within histiocytes. These histiocytes differed from those classically described in leprosy. Retrospective review demonstr ated the presence of occasional nerve fragments, and so,ne of these cl osely resembled granulomas. The possible close resemblance of this les ion to tuberculosis and a histiocytic proliferative disorder is highli ghted. Recognition of nerve fragments along with histiocytes should su ggest the diagnosis. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998;19:198-200. (C) 1998 Wile y-Liss, Inc.