Endothelial cell bacillation in lepromatous leprosy: a case report

Abstract
We report observations on a biopsy specimen of skin from a lepromatous leprosy (LL) patient with heavy bacillation of vascular endothelial cells. The staining properties of the bacilli in the endothelial cells when compared to those in the surrounding macrophages suggest that endothelial cells may be preferential sites for growth of Mycobacterium leprae.