Cutaneous inoculation tuberculosis secondary to 'jailhouse tattooing'

Cutaneous inoculation tuberculosis is rare in the United States today. When seen, it usually occurs in individuals whose occupations or environments place them at increased risk for exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The reaction of the skin to M tuberculosis infection is polymorphous and depends upon the interplay of bacterial virulence and host immunity. Thus, both a high index of suspicion and positive cultures are required to make the diagnosis. Herein, we report a case of cutaneous inoculation tuberculosis occurring in a tattoo.