[Cutaneous tuberculosis. A study of 4 cases].
BACKGROUND
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Iborra
C
C
Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris.
Cambau
E
E
Lecomte
C
C
Grosset
J
J
Bricaire
F
F
Caumes
E
E
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D014382:Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis*