Histopathological study of apparently normal oral mucosa in lepromatous leprosy

In lepromatous leprosy, it may be postulated that apparently normal areas of skin are the probable sites of future extension of the pathological process and the events taking place in these site might represent the earlier stages of such an extension. Thus the present study has been done to evaluate any such changes in the apparently normal oral mucous membrane of the lepromatous leprosy patients, since oral involvement is common in these patients. Twenty two cases of lepromatous leprosy were studied histologically to see changes in apparently normal oral mucosa. Out of the 22 patients, apparently normal skin biopsies were taken from 13 patients and 5 lesional biopsies were taken from the same patients. Apparently normal oral mucosal biopsies were done for all patients. Biopsies of 22 cases of apparently normal oral mucosa did not show granulation formation of acid-fast bacilli histologically. The only change present was mild inflammation.