Open AccessA comparison of sensory loss tests and histopathology in the diagnosis of leprosy
Author(s) -
J. M. Pönnighaus,
P. E. M. Fine
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
leprosy review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 2162-8807
pISSN - 0305-7518
DOI - 10.5935/0305-7518.19890003
Subject(s) - leprosy , medicine , histopathology , sensation , sensory system , sensory loss , dermatology , physical examination , quantitative sensory testing , pathology , surgery , psychology , neuroscience , cognitive psychology , biology
Three different sensory loss tests, for anaesthesia to light touch, for diminished pain sensation and for loss of thermosensation, were compared with histopathological examination results in the diagnosis of suspected tuberculoid leprosy in 120 individuals with 126 lesions. Though none of the 3 tests used in this study was found to be strikingly superior to any of the others, the results indicate potentially important differences in their usefulness in different subgroups of suspected patients. The methodological problems inherent in such studies are discussed.