A clinical and radiological study of maxillary antrum in lepromatous leprosy

Seventy consecutive patients having multibacillary leprosy were questioned about symptoms of nasal involvement and sinusitis. Complete otorhinolaryngeal examination was carried out in all these patients and they were subjected to radiographic examination of paranasal sinuses. Radiological abnormality of maxillary antrum was found in 40 (57%) patients. Radiological changes were unilateral in 25 and bilateral in 15 patients. Localised or generalised mucosal thickening was the most common finding, followed by diffuse opacity. The development of radiological changes in maxillary antrum correlated with high bacterial density (BI 3+ and above), nasal deformity, and disease duration of more than two years.