Rhinoscleroma in Malawi and Eastern Zaire.

The first ten cases of rhinoscleroma from Malawi and six from Eastern Zaire are reported. Most of the patients were aged between 20 and 40 years (age range 3-60) and presented with either a nasal "tumour' or abnormalities of the nasal septum. Histological examination of biopsy material revealed features diagnostic of rhinoscleroma - a mixture of mature plasma cells and lareg foamy macrophages (Mikulicz cells) containing intra-cellular Gram negative bacilli. The organisms were best seen in sections stained by the Warthin-Starry technique. This study suggests that rhinosceleroma is perhaps more common in Malawi and Zaire than has been realised.