Sarcoidosis and leprosy--an epidemiological, clinical, pathological and immunological comparison.

Whilst the close relationship between sarcoidosis and tuberculosis has long been recognized, the similarity of sarcoidosis to leprosy has remained in the background. In most of the developing world sarcoidosis has been apparently eclipsed by the high prevalence of these two common mycobacterial diseases. The relevant epidemiological, clinical, immunological and pathological features of leprosy and sarcoidosis are compared and contrasted.