[Cutaneous tuberculosis. A review of 38 cases].
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous tuberculosis (CT) represents only 2% of extra-pulmonary locations. This form should be studied because it may indicate visceral forms of tuberculosis. MATERIAL AND PROCEDURES: Retrospective study of patients affected by CT, conducted in the dermatology department of Charles Nicolle Hospital from 1991 to 2002. Tuberculids have been excluded.


RESULTS
We have studied 38 cases of CT subdivided on 8 lupus tuberculosis, fourteen scrofuloderma, two warty tuberculosis, one association between lupus tuberculosis and scrofuloderma, twelve BCG specific reactions and one unclassifiable form. The average age of our patients was 43 years. The sex ratio (H/F) was 1,91. Concomitant visceral tuberculosis was discovered in 9 patients. All cases were confirmed by anatomopathologic examination and half of them had a caseous necrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of cutaneous tuberculosis seems to be increasing in our country: from 3 per 1000 new consultants in our dermatology department between 1970 and 1977 to 0.44 per 1000 new consultants from 1991 to 2002. Our study points out a male predominance in cutaneous tuberculosis. Clinical forms are still dominated by scrofuloderma which is a multibacillary form.
Hajlaoui
Khaoula
K
Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Charles Nicolle de Tunis, Tunisie.
Fazaa
Bacima
B
Zermani
Rachida
R
Zeglaoui
Faten
F
El Fekib
Nadia
N
Ezzine
Nadia
N
Kharfi
Monia
M
Ben Jilani
Sarra
S
Kamoun
Mohamed Ridha
MR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014382:Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology
D001500:BCG Vaccine