Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in five different types of cutaneous lesions by the polymerase chain reaction.
METHODS
A spectrum of skin lesions are believed to be secondary to the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Demonstration of M tuberculosis directly or in culture in some of these eruptions can be difficult. We used the polymerase chain reaction and a primer/probe set specifically for M tuberculosis complex DNA to evaluate five types of skin lesions clinically considered to represent infection by, or reaction to, M tuberculosis.


METHODS
Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA was demonstrated in paraffin-embedded sections of these five cases, representing a variety of clinical and histologic patterns. In two cases, M tuberculosis could not be demonstrated by routine cultural methods.


CONCLUSIONS
DNA diagnostic methods such as the polymerase chain reaction can be used to rapidly identify cutaneous lesions produced by M tuberculosis.
Penneys
N S
NS
Division of Dermatology, University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo.
Leonardi
C L
CL
Cook
S
S
Blauvelt
A
A
Rosenberg
S
S
Eells
L D
LD
Konwiser
M
M
Aaronson
C M
CM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007868:Leg Dermatoses / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008177:Lupus Vulgaris / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014382:Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
D004269:DNA, Bacterial