Facial lupus vulgaris neglected for 50 years

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is still a problem in the developed and underdeveloped countries, and cutaneous TB is a small part of extrapulmonary forms. Lupus vulgaris (LV) is the most common form of cutaneous TB among Western populations. In Morocco, scrofuloderma is the most common form of cutaneous TB followed by LV. LV results both from inoculation and from the endogenous spread through hematogenous or lymphatic route from an underlying infectious focus. We report a case of facial LV with a long delay in diagnosis of 50 years. A 59-year-old man presented with a right cheek slow-growing lesion for 50 years. Skin biopsy showed tuberculoid granulomas without caseous necrosis, and the culture of cutaneous biopsy was negative. The polymerase chain reaction of Mycobacterium complex-specific DNA sequences on a fresh skin biopsy material was positive. The patient was given antituberculous treatment with which lesion improved. The delayed diagnosis of 50 years is atypical, especially that the lesion had a display character. Delayed diagnosis of cutaneous TB will cause a significant increase in morbidity. Early diagnosis and treatment is the key to reduce the morbidity.

Keywords

• cutaneous tuberculosis
• lupus vulgaris
• morocco
• tuberculosis