| leproma | A fairly well-circumscribed discrete focus of granulomatous inflammation, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which consists chiefly of an accumulation of large mononuclear phagocytic cells in which the cytoplasm seems finely vacuolated (i.e., foam cells); the foamlike character of the macrophages is related to the engulfing of numerous acid-fast organisms. Origin: G. Lepros, scaly, + -oma, tumour (05 Mar 2000) |
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| lepromatous | Pertaining to, or characterised by, the features of a leproma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lepromatous leprosy | A form of leprosy in which nodular cutaneous lesions are infiltrated, have ill-defined borders, and are bacteriologically positive; the lepromin test is negative, i.e., the immunologic mechanism of the patient is not responsive to the Mycobacterium leprae infection. (05 Mar 2000) |