A Cytohistopathological Correlation Study of Skin Lesions in Leprosy: An Experience in a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India

Background Leprosy is a granulomatous disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae . Early detection and clinical diagnosis remain a challenge, especially in paucibacillary cases and initial lesions during early phases of leprosy. Use of cytological methods can reduce time for diagnosis, especially in peripheral centers.Objectives The present study was taken up to calculate the correlation between cytology and histopathology of skin lesions in leprosy.Material & Methods This study is a 2-year retrospective observational study taken up in the Department of Pathology, Rangaraya Medical College and Government General Hospital, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. A total of 49 cases of clinically suspected leprosy were included in the study. Skin biopsies and cytological smears were examined in all cases.Results A total of 49 cases of clinically suspected leprosy were included in the study. The age incidence ranged between 9 and 72 years. There was a male preponderance. The overall diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration smears was 83.3% and that of slit-skin smears was 62.1%.Conclusion Cytological examination being a simple, less time-consuming, and easy technique can enhance the diagnostic accuracy in detection of leprosy and act as an adjunct to clinical diagnosis.