Disseminated lupus vulgaris

A 28-year-old woman presented with reddish raised, shiny lesions over the face and ears present for the past 3 years. Four years ago, she developed in her left axilla a nodule that became fluctuant and tender, which ruptured to discharge seropurulent material. It subsided after the patient had received antibiotics for 6 months, leaving puckered scarring. There was no history of antituberculous treatment. After 1 year, she developed papulonodular lesions on her face, nose, and ears. There was now a history of malaise, fever, dry cough, and anorexia and weight loss for the past 2 months. The patient was fully vaccinated in childhood, including against varicella infection. The general physical examination revealed lymphadenopathy involving cervical, axillary, and inguinal lymph nodes 0.5 x 0.5 cm to 1 x 1.5 cm, firm in consistency, and nontender. They were discrete except in the left axilla where multiple matted lymph nodes were present with overlying scarring and a papule. Her systemic examination was normal. Cutaneous examination showed a shiny erythematous plaque 3x2 cm with central atrophy and scarring on the face (Figure). It was comprised of multiple shiny nontender soft papules arranged in annular configuration. Similar discrete papules and nodules with adherent fine scaling were seen bilaterally on the alar prominence of the nose, lower lip, and post-auricular area. On diascopy, apple jelly nodules were seen. The hemogram, liver function tests, and renal function tests were normal, except for an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The Mantoux test showed erythema and an induration of 20 x 20 cm. A posteroanterior view on the chest x-ray showed fibrotic changes suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis. Ultrasonography of the abdomen and pelvis showed no tubercular foci. Human immunodeficiency virus serology by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with 3 different kits was nonreactive. Histopathology from a nodule showed a focally thinned-out epidermis with follicular plugging and multiple epithelioid cell granulomas, rimmed by lymphocytes in the deeper portion of the dermis, mainly peri-appendageal. Stain for acid-fast bacteria was negative. Cultures from the skin lesions were negative. The patient was diagnosed as having lupus vulgaris with multiple lesions of varying morphology at different sites with pulmonary tuberculosis and healed lymph node involvement.