title: Aspiration cytology of lymph nodes in leprosy.
abstract: Lymph node aspiration cytology smear patterns were analyzed in 60 cases of leprosy. A Type I smear pattern was found in 51.7%, Type II in 25%, Type III in 16.6%, and Type IV in 6.7% of the cases. Comparing with the histopathological diagnosis, Type I and Type II smears corresponded to LL lesions. Type III smears corresponded to BB lesions toward the lepromatous end of the spectrum, and Type IV smears corresponded to BB lesions toward the tuberculoid end of the spectrum. An increasing degree of lymphocytic cell admixture was noticed from Type I to Type IV smears with a changing appearance from classical foamy histiocytes in Type I and Type II smears to atypical histiocytes in Type III smears and epithelioid histiocytes in Type IV cases. These findings correlated with the better cell-mediated immune reactivity observed in these patients as the disease spectrum crosses from Type I and Type II smears to Type III and Type IV smears. A larger number of cases needs to be studied for definite assessment of these criteria.
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006644:Histiocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007918:Leprosy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*