Tuberculosis - I.T. Pyatnochka 2005

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis
Tuberculosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissue

Tuberculosis of this localization is rare. The pathogen invades via lymphogenous and hematogenous routes, and less frequently by contact with primary tuberculous lesions. In 15–20% of patients, cutaneous tuberculosis is associated with tuberculosis of other Internal Organs.

Cutaneous tuberculosis is a group of diseases characterized by diverse clinical courses and histopathological features. The same clinical form of Skin tuberculosis can be caused by different species of the pathogen. Skin reactivity varies depending on whether mycobacteria enter the body for the first time or upon re-infection. When mycobacteria invade the skin initially, a primary tuberculous affect (tuberculous chancre) develops at the site. Depending on the extent of the process, cutaneous tuberculosis is classified into localized and disseminated forms. Localized forms include: primary cutaneous tuberculosis, lupus vulgaris (lupus of the skin), verrucous tuberculosis (prosector's wart), colliquative tuberculosis (scrofuloderma), ulcerous tuberculosis, and indurated tuberculosis (erythema induratum, Bazin's disease). The disseminated group comprises miliary, lichenoid (lichen scrofulosorum), and papulonecrotic tuberculosis.

The most common form of cutaneous tuberculosis is lupus vulgaris. The Diagnosis is confirmed by histological examination of a biopsy specimen taken from the affected skin area.

Treatment involves antimycobacterial drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, streptomycin) administered for 6 months or longer. Immunostimulators, Vitamins (D2, E, A, C, B vitamins), and physical therapy are also employed. Subsequently, anti-relapse courses are prescribed.



Last update: 10/08/2026

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