Histopathological spectrum of cutaneous leishmaniasis in North West Frontier Province
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66344/jpad.14.4.2004.824Keywords:
Cutaneous leishmaniasis, histopathology, LT bodiesAbstract
Objectives The objective of the study was to determine various histological spectrum of
cutaneous leishmaniasis in NWFP and to detect if there were any other useful histological
findings in addition to the detection of amastigotes, which could help in the diagnosis.
Materials and methods Total number of patients included in the study was 36. These patients
were referred from various areas of NWFP. All except one were males. Their age ranged
between 8-60 years. The duration of illness was from 3-32 weeks. A skin biopsy was
performed from the most typical lesion from each patient. The biopsy slide was stained with
H&E stain and viewed under a microscope by a single expert. The histopathological findings
were noted in accordance to uniform criteria.
Results The confirmation of the diagnosis was done by the detection of amastigotes (LT
bodies) in the slides. They were detected in 11 out of 36 patients (30.55%). The other most
significant finding detected in all the slides was the presence of a mixed inflammatory cell
infiltrate in the superficial dermis.
Conclusion It is concluded that the chances of picking up of amastigotes in the biopsy slides
in not high. Hence, the presence of dense mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate in superficial
dermis must be considered as a diagnostic feature in the absence of LT bodies.
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