Cutaneous tuberculosis (TB)

Cutaneous tuberculosis (TB) is essentially an invasion of the skin by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the same bacteria that cause TB of the lungs. Cutaneous TB is a relatively uncommon form of extrapulmonary TB. Even in countries such as India and China where TB still commonly occurs, cutaneous outbreaks are rare.

Types of Cutaneous tuberculosis

1. TB verrucosa cutis
2. Lupus vulgaris
3. Scrofuloderma
4. Miliary TB
5. Tuberculid

Diagnosis and tests of Cutaneous tuberculosis

The diagnosis is usually made or confirmed by a skin biopsy. Other tests that may be necessary include:

• Tuberculin skin test (Mantoux)
• Sputum culture (it may take a month or longer for results to be reported)
• Chest X-ray & other radiological tests for extrapulmonary infection.

Amyloidosis
Connective tissue naevi
Dermatofibroma
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
Ehler's Danlos syndrome
Elastosis perforans serpiginosa
Keloids & hypertrophic scars
Lipodystrophy
Lipoma
Mastocytoma
Neurofibroma
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum
Reactive perforating collagenosis
Striae (stretch marks)
Eosinophilic fasciitis
Erythema multiforme
Histiocytoses
Jessner's lymphocytic infiltrate
Langerhans cell histiocytosis
Lymphocytoma cutis
Lymphomatoid papulosis
Mastocytosis
Morphoea
Non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis
Panniculitis
Reticulohistiocytosis
Sweet's disease
Systemic sclerosis
Atypical mycobacterial infection
Granuloma faciale
Granuloma annulare
Cutaneous tuberculosis
Leprosy
Pyogenic granuloma
Sarcoidosis