@article{29803,
  keywords = {Peripheral neuropathy, FNAC, Hansen’s disease, Lepra bacilli, Sensory cutaneous nerve, leprosy},
  author = {Naik R and Sa DK and Kishori PM},
  title = {Diagnostic utility of fine needle aspiration cytology of sensory cutaneous nerve in leprosy},
  abstract = {<p><strong>Background:</strong> Peripheral neuropathy is a central feature of&nbsp; leprosy. Intraneural inflammation caused by&nbsp; M. leprae is the&nbsp; morphological hallmark of this disease,&nbsp; FNAC of sensory cutaneous nerve has proved to be a valuable diagnostic tool.</p>

<p><strong>Materials and methods:</strong> The data of patients with sensory cutaneous nerve involvement were retrieved from our record for the period from Nov 2014 to Sept 2015. The hematoxylin and eosin (H and E)- and May-Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG)-stained slides were screened for Schwann cells, granuloma, and necrosis. Modifi ed Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN)-stained smears were searched for single lepra bacilli and globi.</p>

<p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-five sensory cutaneous nerves were aspirated. Out of which 19 yielded diagnostic aspirate. Five cytologic pictures were seen - epithelioid cell granulomas (6), epithelioidcell granulomas with necrosis (3);necrosis + lepra bacilli (4); only lepra bacilli (2); and lymphocyte &amp; macrophage infiltrate (4).Following the Ridley-Jopling classification, in our study there were 9 cases of TT, 4 of BT-TT, 1 of BB, 2 of BL, and 3 of LL.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>FNAC of sensory cutaneous nerve is useful in diagnosis and classification of leprosy on the R-J scale.</p>
},
  year = {2017},
  journal = {Annals of pathology and laboratory medicine},
  volume = {4},
  pages = {157-162},
  url = {http://www.pacificejournals.com/journal/index.php/apalm/article/view/1178/pdf_345},
  language = {eng},
}