Papular eruption on a tattoo: a case of primary inoculation tuberculosis.
The pathogenesis of inoculation cutaneous tuberculosis requires a break in the skin, through minor abrasions or injury, allowing the entry of tubercle bacilli. We report a 33-year-old man who presented with erythematous papules over a tattoo on the right upper arm, 1 month after undergoing a tattoo procedure. Histology and cultures revealed infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. He was started on a 9-month course of antituberculous medication and 3 months after initiation of the drugs all the papules had subsided. He has since completed the course of therapy and there has been no recurrence 1 year after treatment was started.
Wong
Hoong-Wai
HW
Division of Dermatology, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.
Tay
Yong-Kwang
YK
Sim
Chee-Seng
CS
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014382:Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology