The lepromatous lesions in the tongue are found. Until recently there had been no
reported case of lepromas in the tongue in Korea. Since the sulfones have been widely
used clinically, the faradvanced lepromatous changes of the tongue can not be routinely
visualized at the skin clinic.4 female patient aged 28, had onset of leprosy at 12 and
admitted in National Leprosy Hospital for 5 years with sulfone treatment. Afterwards,
she had antileprosy treatment badly at home until 1977 (27 years old), Sinse January,
1977, general oedema and many nodules appeared suddenly and she has noticed that
four nodules appeared in the tongue. When she was admitted in Korean Leprosy
Institute, she was suffering from fever, many nodules on face, nose was collapsed, and
she had severe conjunctivitis and Keratitis on both eyes. She had distinguished
lepromatcus lesions in uvula, soft palate and tongue in the mouth, and severe hoarse
voice. One of the lepromas of the tongue was taken off surgically and it was observed
histopathologically. The mucous membrane was thinner than usual and submucous tissue
was occupied by masses of leprous infiltration without free-zone. And the leprous
infilteation invaded into the muscle tissue of the tongue and acid-fast bacilli were
observed in the leproma. After the combined chemotherapy with rifampicin, dapsone and
thiambutosine at the KLI. the lepromas in the tongue disappeared clinically and also the
sense of taste has gradually recovered.
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