Cutaneous tuberculosis and its pleomorphic presentations in human immunodeficiency virus-negative patients: a case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous tuberculosis is reported to be rare, especially in human immunodeficiency virus-negative patients but probably also underdiagnosed. This is because it presents with pictorial and anatomoclinical polymorphism. In Africa, despite tuberculosis being endemic, isolating the germ and/or obtaining histopathological confirmation constitutes a significant challenge. Literature on the clinical presentations and outcomes of patients with cutaneous tuberculosis is sparse in Cameroon and sub-Saharan Africa. This prompted us to report on the cases of cutaneous tuberculosis we encountered. CASE PRESENTATION: We report ten cases of cutaneous tuberculosis diagnosed in human immunodeficiency virus-negative patients from 2018 to 2022 in Cameroon. All cases included were confirmed by histology and/or laboratory test. The average age of our patients was 35.7 ± 20.3 years, with age ranges between 8 and 72 years. The sex ratio (M/F) was 1.5. The clinical forms identified were scrofuloderma (three cases), papulonecrotic tuberculid (two cases), and tuberculosis verrucosa cutis (two cases). Tubercular gumma, lupus vulgaris, and disseminated tuberculosis accounted for one case each. Under antituberculosis drugs, the clinical progress was favorable for all cases. CONCLUSION: Cutaneous tuberculosis can present in various forms. Though rare in our setting, physicians should consider this diagnosis when faced with any chronic skin lesion that does not respond to conventional treatment.