02103nas a2200289   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001100059653001400070653001100084653002200095653001100117653001200128653000900140653001700149653002900166653002200195100001400217700001400231700001500245245008600260856005700346300001100403490000700414520137800421022001401799       2005                            d  c2005 Sep-Oct10aBiopsy10aEndoscopy10aFemale10aFollow-Up Studies10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aNasal Mucosa10aParanasal Sinus Diseases10aParanasal Sinuses1 aMartins A1 aCastro JC1 aMoreira JS00aA ten-year historic study of paranasal cavity endoscopy in patients with Leprosy.  uhttp://www.scielo.br/pdf/rboto/v71n5/en_a11v71n5.pdf  a609-150 v713 a<p><b>UNLABELLED: </b>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.</p><p><b>AIM: </b>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.</p><p><b>STUDY DESIGN: </b>Clinical history study.</p><p><b>MATERIAL AND METHOD: </b>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.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>All of the patients showed nasal lesions, 121 with and 52 without clinical complaints.</p><p><b>DISCUSSION: </b>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.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>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.</p>  a1808-8694