Cutaneous leishmaniasis: A pathological study of 360 cases with special emphasis on the contribution of immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction to diagnosis.

Background: Traditional methods for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis yield poor sensitivity, which limits its effectiveness in lesions with a low parasite burden.

Methods: Retrospective pathologic study of 360 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis and analysis of the different diagnostic methods used.

Results: In 93% of the lesions, histopathology showed a dense and diffuse inflammatory infiltrate, consisting of lymphocytes, histiocytes and plasma cells, which occupied the superficial and mid dermis and variably extended to deep dermis and superficial subcutis (standard pattern).