title: A ten-year historic study of paranasal cavity endoscopy in patients with Leprosy.
abstract: Leprosy is an infectious condition that has a chronic evolution caused by the Mycobacterium leprae. It very often attacks the nasal cavities mucosa independent of its clinical form, even before skin lesions or lesions to other parts of the body arise, in the presence or not of clinical complaints.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To show the efficiency of nasal endoscopy to identify endonasal mucosa lesions and the importance of the Otorhinolaryngologist in the diagnosis and follow-up of Leprosy patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical history study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A historic study was performed with 173 patient's records without previous treatment from 1990 to 2000 at the Otorhinolaryngology Services, Instituto de Pesquisas Clinicas Hospital Evandro Chagas, Fiocruz.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the patients showed nasal lesions, 121 with and 52 without clinical complaints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nasal cavities endoscopy exam enabled early identification of the mucosa alteration in Leprosy patients as well as how to identify the evolution of the lesions. This type of exam also helps to establish local treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The evaluation and follow-up of Leprosy patients by the Otorhinolaryngologist in a multidisciplinary team are justified and offer the patient early diagnosis and specific treatment.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas-Fiocruz.
authors.forename: Ana C C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Jair de Carvalho e
authors.initials: Jde C
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: João Soares
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Moreira
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000473:pathology*