Regional lymph node involvement in tuberculoid leprosy.

A study of regional lymph nodes in 44 cases of proved tuberculoid leprosy (BT & TT) is presented. Out of 26 cases of tuberculoid polar (TT) leprosy, 76.92% showed presence of paracortical lymphocytes, 61.52% showed presence of granuloma and 11.54% showed presence of acid fast bacilli in lymph nodes. In the borderline tuberculoid (BT) group, 61.1% showed granuloma, 72.22% showed presence of paracortical infiltration by lymphocytes and 11.11% showed presence of A.F.B. in lymph nodes. Lesions of tuberculoid leprosy have been conclusively demonstrated in the low resistant tuberculoid (BT) leprosy and polar tuberculoid leprosy (TT). The presence of paracortical lymphocytes in large numbers in the lymph nodes could indicate high cell mediated immunity (CMI) and possibly a tuberculoid end of the spectrum. The skin lesions and lymph nodes had comparative histopathology.