[Tuberculous lupus]

Med Mal Infect. 2009 Jun;39(6):409-12. doi: 10.1016/j.medmal.2009.02.039. Epub 2009 May 30.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Cutaneous tuberculosis accounts for 2% of all extrapulmonary tuberculosis and is one of the multiple clinical presentations of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. We report a case of cutaneous tuberculosis with unusual clinical and histological presentations.

Case report: We report the case of a 29-year-old woman with plurifocal tuberculous lupus. Histological examination of cutaneous lesions revealed the presence of a granuloma with caseum necrosis. Chest X-ray showed a severe pulmonary tuberculosis lesion. The Mantoux test performed by intradermal injection was positive. Skin lesion PCR and sputum culture were negative. Both skin and pulmonary lesions responded to antituberculous treatment.

Commentary: Lupus vulgaris is commonly presents on the head and neck. The diagnosis may be difficult when lupus vulgaris occurs at unexpected sites or in unusual clinical presentations. Caseum necrosis observed in our patient was unusual.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Granuloma / microbiology
  • Granuloma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Necrosis
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin Tests
  • Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / pathology

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents