Cutaneous tuberculosis revealing disseminated infection in a young patient with myelodysplastic syndrome: A case report

Abstract

The association of cutaneous tuberculosis and myelodysplastic syndrome is rare, especially in young patients, and its diagnosis can be difficult given the clinical polymorphism. Our 19-year-old patient presented with gum-like lesions and scrofulodermal lesions, initially related to histiocytosis. After some misdiagnosis, it was only after repeated biopsies and expert histopathological examination that we were able to diagnose cutaneous tuberculosis. Further investigations revealed dissemination of the tuberculosis, particularly to the lungs and lymph nodes. Our observation draws attention to the diagnostic difficulty because tuberculosis can simulate many diseases and also because this extra-pulmonary involvement, announced as benign, can herald disseminated tuberculosis which can be fatal. In countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis, clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for TB in patients with MDS who present with unexplained skin lesions.