Atypical Rare Presentations of Cutaneous Tuberculosis: A Report of Two Cases

Abstract

Cutaneous tuberculosis (TB) is the result of a chronic infection by Mycobacterium TB. The clinical manifestations are variable and depend on the interaction of several factors. TB and malignancy present global threats claiming millions of lives and inflicting formidable suffering worldwide. We present two cases of atypical, rare presentations of cutaneous TB. Cases of concurrent scrofuloderma and lupus vulgaris (LV) with miliary tuberculosis of the lung and cutaneous tuberculosis; atypical presentation of LV with concurrent HIV in a 10 year old child. Concurrent presentation of cutaneous TB with internal organ involvement is a rare entity in an immunocompetent asymptomatic individual like our patient. HIV coinfection with cutaneous TB has not been described in any of the childhood series published from India and ours is probably the first report of its kind. It is imperative that physicians have a high index of suspicion to quickly and effectively diagnose and treat these substantially morbid skin conditions.