title: Erythroderma: an unusual presentation of pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: We report an elderly Chinese man who presented with erythroderma. He was treated with topical corticosteroids and emollients, but did not improve. Chest X-ray revealed cavitation in the right upper pulmonary lobe, and laryngeal swab culture was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Polymerase chain reaction performed on a skin biopsy was positive for M. tuberculosis DNA. Within a month of starting antituberculous medication, his erythroderma had almost completely resolved. Pulmonary tuberculosis should be included in the list of differential diagnosis for erythroderma.
authors.affiliation: National Skin Centre, 1 Mandalay Road, Singapore 308205. ycchan@nsc.gov.sg
authors.forename: Y-C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yosipovitch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003873:Dermatitis, Exfoliative / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents