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Updated: Oct 10, 2025

Dermoscopy Aids in the Diagnosis of Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
Published on: May 16, 2025
A rare case of scrofuloderma along with lupus vulgaris
Chiara Sabbadini1, Julia Oberschmied1, Martina Tauber2
1Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Hospital Brunico, Brunico.
Abstract:
Cutaneous forms of tuberculosis are rare, comprising about 1-1.5% of all cases, and show a wide range of clinical manifestations. Here we present a case of a patient with left cervical ulcerated lymphadenopathy associated with a violaceous plaque in the area of the manubrium of sternum. We performed a biopsy of the plaque for histopathology, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to test for mycobacteria and a smear of the ulcerated lymph node. Histopathology results showed a dermal infiltrate consisting of epithelioid granulomas without necrosis, PCR was negative, and the culture was positive for M. tuberculosis. We made the diagnosis of scrofuloderma associated with lupus vulgaris. The patient was treated with an anti-tuberculous therapy with clinical regression of the lesions. Our case emphasizes the importance of recognizing that tuberculosis can occur as a primary cutaneous pathology, with a challenging diagnosis that requires the correlation of clinical findings with diagnostic testing. Transient acantholytic dermatosis (TAD) is a relatively common entity that has been also noted to occur in patients with cancer. Herein, we describe a case of transient acantholytic dermatosis occurring in a patient with a history of prostate cancer status post radiation, now being treated with combination therapy with pembrolizumab and carboplatin-pemetrexed for advanced lung adenocarcinoma. Our case emphasizes the importance of being cognizant of TAD and its associations, particularly in cancer patients.
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