Histopathology and Clinico-histopathological correlation in Hansen’s disease
Author(s): Suri Sushilkumar K, Iyer Rekha R, Patel Darshana U, Bandil Supriya, Baxi Seema
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) still continues to be an important public health problem. The present study was undertaken to study the histopathological features of leprosy in skin biopsies and to categorize them into various types based on microscopy, bacterial index to correlate with clinical presentations whenever possible.
Methods: Skin biopsies after adequate fixation in 10% formalin, were routinely processed and paraffin embedded sections of 5 micron thickness were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin stain and were studied microscopically.
Results: 45 skin biopsies were obtained from patients with age range of 7-78 years, majority were in 3rd decade, with male to female ratio of 1:1.1. Borderline Tuberculoid (BT) was the commonest type of leprosy (42%). Most common clinical feature was loss of sensation. Atrophic epidermis and grenz zone were more common in Lepromatous Leprosy (LL), HL (Histoid Leprosy) & Borderline Lepromatous (BL). Majority (55.6%) of biopsies were of paucibacillary type and rest (44.4%) were of multibacillary type. Clinico-histopathological correlation was observed in 34 biopsies (75.5%).
Interpretation and conclusion: For accurate diagnosis, correlation of clinical and histopathological features along with bacterial index appears to be more useful than considering any of the single parameters alone.<