Abstract
Morphological studies were conducted on the tissues and lepra cells in the lymphnodes of tuberculoid leprosy. Tuberculoid leprosy occurs by a combination of bacilii which have decreased in proliferative activity and virulence and a host in which some resistence is already present. This stage either disappears or alters to another type. Though tuberculoid in type, it is a systemic disease so there is a proliferation of lepra bacilli and at a certain stage in the latent period or onset, lepra cells are formed. These then are converted to foam cells and then to neutral fat. The changes should be apparent histopathologically.
In the present study, 59 samples of lymphnodes were obtained from 22 cases of leprosy at death and examined for the presence of foam cells and tuberculoid lesions.
The following was observed.
1) Deposition of fat similar to that observed in the lymphnode of the lepromatous type is found in the tuberculoid type.
2) It was difficult to find tuberculoid lesions in the lymphnodes but a case was observed in which there was hyaline fine fibrosis and it is believed that this had developed from a tuberculoid lesion.
3) Deposition of fat (Mainly, fat accumulating type with numerous giant vacuoles, according to the author.) similar to the one observed in the lymphnode of lepromatous type is found in tuberculoid type. The author regards it as a lymphatic absorption process, which may perhaps stand in relation with antileprotic oil drug treatment, not as a degenerative process which might theoretically occur in proliferating bacillary foci.
