Study of lymph node biopsies in lepromatous leprosy patients under treatment

A study of lymph node biopsies from lepromatous leprosy patients undergoing treatment was carried out for one year in 1978-79 in the Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Nagpur. Total 20 lymph node biopsies were studied, out of them, 12 were accompanied with skin biopsies. Typical lepromatous granulomas and presence of lepra bacilli were observed in 18 out of 20 lymph nodes, although this change was not constantly present in skin biopsies. Five out of twelve skin biopsies were bacteriologically negative. From this study, it is inferred that lymph node biopsies may be more helpful for follow up of patients after treatment.