Cytomorphology of leprosy across the Ridley-Jopling spectrum.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possible role of cytology in classifying leprosy lesions on the Ridley-Jopling scale.


METHODS
A double-blind, prospective study comparing cytologic assessment of 30 clinically diagnosed cases of leprosy with their histopathology. May-Grünwald-Giemsa and Ziehl-Neelsen stain were done on slit skin smears and fine needle aspiration material.


RESULTS
Cytologic subclassification was possible in 23 cases as tuberculoid leprosy (11), midborderline (3), borderline lepromatous (5) and lepromatous leprosy (4). These correlated with histologic subtypes.


CONCLUSIONS
May-Grünwald-Giemsa complements Ziehl-Neelsen stain, yielding information almost comparable to that from histologic examination of skin biopsies.
Singh
N
N
Department of Pathology, University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India.
Bhatia
A
A
Gupta
K
K
Ramam
M
M
D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D015439:Leprosy, Borderline / Q000473:pathology; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology
D004396:Coloring Agents