Comparative Study of the Stamp Specimens with the Histopathological Tissue Sections of Ear-lobes

• Published in: Japanese journal of leprosy Vol. 51; no. 3; pp. 140 - 145
• Main Authors: SASAKI, NORISUKE, KAWATSU, KUNIO
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Leprosy Association 30.09.1982
• ISSN: 0386-3980; 2185-1360
• DOI: 10.5025/hansen1977.51.140

Comparative studies of the stamp method with the histopathological tissue sections of ear-lobes were performed for the investigation on 47 cases autopsied during three years (1978 to 1981). As the technique of the stamp method, tissues of both side ear-lobe skin were cut down with a sterilized scissor and put on slide-glasses immediately, then staining for acid-fast bacilli by Harada's method and other staining such as Giemsa stain were done. This technique could be easily carried out and the detection rate of leprosy bacilli in the stamp specimens was found to be concurred with that in the tissue sections, the percentage of each beingidentically 10.6% (5 cases out of 47 cases). The 5 positive cases of leprosy bacilli were all out of 6 relapse cases, so that the number and form of leprosy bacilli detected by the stamp method were compared with those and also with the skin lesions by the histopathological observation as shown in able 1 and 2. Besides, the detection rate of fungi was relatively remarkable at 27.7% in the stamp specimens, while fungi were hardly seen in the tissue sections. Moreover, histochemical analysis and the fluoressence antibody method may be applicable in the stamp specimens.