title: An evaluation of the S-100 stain in the histological diagnosis of tuberculoid leprosy and other granulomatous dermatoses.
abstract: Forty biopsies of granulomatous dermatoses, 12 of which were tuberculoid leprosy (TL), were studied for patterns of nerve twig distribution using an immunoperoxidase technique for S-100 protein. Four distinct patterns of nerve twigs were identified: 1) within granulomas, 2) between granulomas, 3) within and between granulomas, and 4) undetectable nerve twigs in an adequate biopsy. Pattern 4 was seen exclusively in TL (p < 0.05). The other patterns occurred in nonleprosy dermatoses as well, suggesting that pattern 4 is the best indicator toward a diagnosis of TL. The granules of mycetoma and Mycobacterium leprae also stained positively with the S-100 stain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramam
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tickoo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhatia
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006099:Granuloma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D015441:Leprosy, Tuberculoid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000294:innervation / Q000382:microbiology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D009418:S100 Proteins