Tuberculosis verrucosa cutis in a patient with keloid over ear lobule

BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Jul 10:2013:bcr2013010294. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-010294.

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health problem with predominance in resource-poor countries. Extrapulmonary TB constitutes approximately 10% of the cases and can present as different forms depending on the route of entry. Cutaneous TB is a small subset of the extrapulmonary TB. Cutaneous TB can either be of primary origin or secondary origin or it can be a part of a systemic infection. TB verrucosa cutis (TBVC) is the exogenous reinfection of TB in a previously sensitised patient. Routine cultures do not have a high yield in TBVC due to the paucibacillary nature of the organism. Here we are presenting a rare case of a patient who developed in a keloid over the right ear lobule following ear piercing. This has only been presented once in the previous literature and for the first time in the head and neck region.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Ear Auricle*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Keloid / complications*
  • Keloid / pathology
  • Keloid / surgery
  • Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / complications*
  • Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / pathology
  • Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / surgery