[Cutaneous tuberculosis. A study of 4 cases].

INTRODUCTION

The recent increase in the incidence of tuberculosis has led to the return of cutaneous forms of this disease. In addition, diagnosis can now be made rapidly using genoma amplification.

CASE REPORT

Four cases of cutaneous tuberculosis are described in nonimmunosuppressed patients: two cases of lupus vulgaris, including one due to Mycobacterium africanum, and two others of gummas, including one associated with tuberculosis verrucosa. The diagnosis was suggested by epidemiological, clinical, histological and immunological findings and confirmed by culture of the bacilli in 3 cases and by genoma amplification in 1.

DISCUSSION

These observations illustrate the difficulties encountered in determining the tuberculosis nature of skin lesions. The clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, the pathophysiology of this disease and the new interest in genoma amplification are discussed.