Lepromatous Lymphadenitis Mimicking Non-
Hodgkins Lymphoma: A Case Diagnosed by
Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology
869-871
Correspondence
Dr Prem Singh MD
Department of Pathology, M.M. Institute of Medical Sciences
and Research Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India PIN-133207.
Mobile:- +918950204113, Fax:- 01731304111
E-mail: premsingh01@hotmail.com.
Objectives: To report a case of generalized lymphadenopathy in a man, clinically suspected as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and to present the usefulness of FNAC as a diagnostic tool for leprosy in patients presenting with lymphadenopathy.
Methods: A 46 year old man from Uttar Pradesh (India) with generalized lymphadenopathy. Initially diagnosed as tubercular lymphadenitis, he was prescribed a course of antitubercular treatment to which he did not respond. He was hence referred to our institute, where he clinically suspectedto be a case of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and was taken for further investigations.
Results: Fine needle aspiration was performed on the lymph node which established lepromatous leprosy as the cause of lymphadenopathy.This was further confirmed by lymph node biopsy and its histopathological examination.
Conclusion: The standard tools for diagnosis of leprosy are mainly skin slit smears or skin biopsy of the affected area of skin. When the presentation is with lymphadenopathy, then FNAC of the lymph node provides for an infallible tool for diagnosis.