Cutaneous Tuberculosis (CTB) Identified on 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Radiology

Background:

• Cutaneous Tuberculosis (CTB) is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
• Diagnosis is challenging due to diverse clinical presentations and non-specific histopathology.
• Lesions often mimic other dermatological conditions, complicating diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a challenging case of cutaneous tuberculosis.
• To illustrate the utility of 18F-Fludeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (FDG PET/CT) in diagnosing CTB.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 69-year-old male with unusual, treatment-resistant cutaneous lesions.
• Initial diagnostic workup included standard histological examination, which yielded ambiguous results.
• 18F-Fludeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (FDG PET/CT) imaging was performed.

Main Results:

• FDG PET/CT imaging revealed pulmonary nodules and significant tracer uptake in the cutaneous lesions.
• These findings were crucial in supporting the diagnosis of cutaneous tuberculosis.
• The imaging provided a more definitive diagnostic pathway when conventional methods were inconclusive.

Conclusions:

• FDG PET/CT can be a valuable tool in diagnosing challenging cases of cutaneous tuberculosis.
• This imaging modality can help identify systemic involvement and guide diagnosis when cutaneous lesions are atypical or initial tests are non-diagnostic.
• Integrating advanced imaging techniques can improve diagnostic accuracy for rare presentations of tuberculosis.