STUDY OF ETHMOID SINUS INVOLVEMENT IN MULTIBACILLARY LEPROSY

The nasal mucosal involvement in lepromatous leprosy is well recognize d. Currently interest has centred around the involvement of paranasal sinuses in leprosy. They act as;a reservoir and constant source of rei nfection to the nasal mucosa. In the present prospective study 25 untr eated patients with multi-bacillary leprosy were included. Clinical ex amination, computed tomography (CT) scan of paranasal sinuses, ethmoid sinus endoscopy and biopsy were carried out in all patients, to inves tigate the involvement of the paranasal sinuses in leprosy. Ethmoid si nus involvement was noted in 20 patients on CT scan. Bilateral involve ment was more common (65 per cent). Anterior ethmoids were more common ly affected (65 per cent). On ethmoid sinus endoscopy abnormal mucosa was noted in 17 patients (68 per cent). Ethmoid sinus biopsy was confi rmative in 16 patients (64 per cent). Statistically significant correl ation was found between CT findings, sinus endoscopy and sinus biopsy findings.