Clinical Spectrum of Cutaneous Tuberculosis in Central India: A Retrospective Study

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is a significant health problem in both developing and developed countries. In India, cutaneous TB constitutes about 0.1% to 2% of the total skin diseases attending outpatients.

To study the clinical spectrum and therapeutic outcome in cutaneous TB.

Medical records of diagnosed cases of cutaneous TB from June 2015 to June 2018 were analyzed retrospectively with respect to epidemiology, clinical features, investigations, and treatment outcome. Statistical analysis was done using mean, median, and proportion.

Fifty-two patients with cutaneous TB were recruited. Females (61.53%) outnumbered males. The most common age group affected was 21-30 years (32.69%) followed by 41-50 years (30%). Lupus vulgaris was the most common clinical type with head and neck being the most common site of involvement. Mantoux positivity was reported in 67.30% of patients while raised ESR in 71.15% of patients. Two patients had serology positive for HIV. Conclusive evidence of TB on histopathology was reported in 86.53%. Excellent response was observed in cases of lupus vulgaris, scrofuloderma, and tuberculosis verrucosa cutis.

This retrospective analysis emphasizes the importance of clinicopathological correlation and therapeutic response in cutaneous TB. Although positive results of ESR, Mantoux reactivity, and TB cultures facilitate the clinical diagnosis, negative results should not exclude the diagnosis of cutaneous TB. This prominent case detection in the era of the Revised National TB Control Programme, in short period of time signifies health burden of cutaneous TB in this part of Maharashtra.