Table of Contents

Washington University Experience | PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY | 10 INFECTION | 3 Leprosy – Lepromatous | 6H1A (Case 6) EM010 - Copy

6H1A,B Ultrastructural examination reveals that the nests of flocculent material correspond largely to macrophages containing intracytoplasmic electron-dense structures surrounded by a white space representing an artifactual retraction of the surrounding tissue. In most cases of untreated lepromatous leprous neuropathy, the electron-dense structure is very dark (almost black) and either round or somewhat elongate (arrow, 6H1B), but in the majority of instances the electron densities of these structures range over various shades of gray. The highly electron-dense structures have the typical appearance of Mycobacterium leprae, but these are a distinct minority. (electron micrographs)

---