Scrofuloderma and tuberculous gumma in a young Filipino adult: A rare presentation of multifocal tuberculosis

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>INTRODUCTION:</strong> Cutaneous involvement is relatively uncommon representing a small fraction (1-2%) of the localizations of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Cutaneous TB presents with several clinical forms, wherein one of the most common is scrofuloderma resulting from the direct extension of a tuberculous focus from a deeper structure such as the lymph node into the overlying skin. Tuberculous gumma is a rare form which occurs due to hematogenous spread of the TB bacilli. Although presenting with a wide clinical spectrum, it is believed that the association of different morphologies as well as numerous lesions and sites of cutaneous TB in a same patient is very rare.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CASE REPORT:</strong> This is a case of a 20-year-old Filipino male presented with a fi ve-month history of several progressive cutaneous lesions initially presenting as subcutaneous nodules evolving into well-demarcated suppurative painless ulcers which were unresponsive to topical antibiotic. Skin punch biopsy from the medial malleolar area of the right foot revealed dilated blood vessels with a diffuse inflammatory infiltrate of lymphocytes, histiocytes, and few multinucleated giant cells. Clinical and laboratory findings were consistent with cutaneous tuberculosis. Patient was started on anti-Koch's treatment regimen and presented an excellent response to treatment showing resolution of the skin lesions on the neck and forearms and notable regression of the lesions on the right foot within four (4) months.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> This case serves as a reminder that cutaneous tuberculosis can manifest with a wide spectrum of clinical presentation which can mimic diverse dermatological conditions and may present with high rates of negative or equivocal diagnostic testing results. This report highlights the importance of a high index of suspicion in the timely diagnosis and management of tuberculosis in countries wherein tuberculosis remains a significant health burden such as the Philippines.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>KEYWORDS:</strong> Cutaneous tuberculosis, Scrofuloderma, Tuberculous gumma, Metastatic tuberculous abscess</p>

Tuberculosis cutánea en pabellón auricular: reporte de un caso / Cutaneous tuberculosis in ear auricle: a case report

RESUMEN La tuberculosis cutánea representa menos del 2% de todos los casos de la infección por Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Su baja prevalencia, asociada a la amplia variedad en la presentación clínica de las lesiones, dificulta y retrasa el diagnóstico y, por tanto, el inicio del tratamiento. El siguiente es el caso de una paciente de 80 años, con una lesión ulcerada, crónica, en pabellón auricular izquierdo, con evolución tórpida y pobre respuesta al manejo farmacológico instaurado; con biopsia de piel que mostró reacción inflamatoria crónica y presencia de bacilos ácido-alcohol resistentes.

ABSTRACT Cutaneous tuberculosis represents less than 2% of all cases of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Its low prevalence, associated with a wide variety in clinical presentation of the lesions, hinders and delays the diagnosis and, thus, treatment initiation. The following is the case of an 80-years old, female patient with an ulcerated, chronic lesion in the left ear auricle, with a torpid evolution and poor response to established pharmacological management; with a skin biopsy that showed chronic inflammatory reaction and the presence of acid-fast bacilli.

Neurosífilis meningovascular y gomatosa cerebral concomitante, en paciente seronegativo para virus de inmunodeficiencia humana / Meningovascular neurosyphilis and concomitant syphilitic gummata in hiv-seronegative patients

Neurosyphilis (NS) is caused by the presence of Treponema Pallidum (TP) spirochete within the Central Nervous System (CNS), mainly affecting the meninges and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). 5 percent to 10 percent of untreated syphilitic patients are deemed to develop symptomatic NSÕ. Its incidence and clinical spectrum have changed over the years with prevalence of early clinical stages of meningitic and meningovascular (MV) NS and exceptional occurrence of late clinical stages (tabes dorsalis, general paresis, and gummata) in the age of antibiotics. The case under analysis deals with aggressive MV and concomitant brain gumma (BG) NS. The case subject is a human inmunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seronegative, 44-year-old woman with 2-year symptomatic latency. Her medical record showed recurrent sensorimotor vascular involvement, fast cognitive damage and chronic, daily cephalea. She met clinical diagnosis, cerebrospinal fluid and serologic criteria for NS. Brain computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) reported lenticulostriate artery infarction and bilateral ganglionic syphilitic gummata. She underwent Penicillin G-based treatment, making progress with neurological, cognitive-motor sequelae. Although NS has anticipated and speeded up its several clinical stages in connection with HIV/Syphilis co-infection, the peculiarity of this case is the concurrence of early and late NS manifestations in HIV-seronegative patient. The conclusion is that NS is a disease that still prevails and that appropriate diagnosis and treatment prevent irreversible neurological sequelae.

La Neurosífilis (NS) es causada por la invasión del Sistema Nervioso Central (SNC) por la espiroqueta Treponema Pallidum (TP), afectando primariamente las meninges y líquido cefalorraquídeo. Entre 5 a 10 por ciento de los pacientes sifilíticos no tratados desarrollarán una NS sintomáticaÕ. Su incidencia y espectro clínico ha cambiado a lo largo del tiempo, siendo las formas clínicas precoces meníngea y meningovascular (MV) las más prevalentes. En contraste, las formas tardías (tabes dorsal, parálisis general y gomas) son de ocurrencia excepcional en la era antibiótica. Se analiza un caso de NS menigovascular y gomas cerebrales concomitantes, de curso clínico agresivo. En una mujer de 44 años, seronegativa para virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH), con latencia sintomática de dos años. Presentaba una historia de focalidad sensitivo-motor de perfil vascular recurrente, rápido deterioro cognitivo-motor y cefalea crónica diaria. Cumplía criterios diagnósticos clínicos, licuorales y serológicos para NS. La Tomografía computada (TC) y Resonancia Magnética (RM) cerebral mostró infartos arteriolares lentículo-estriados y gomas sifilíticas ganglionares bilaterales. Recibió tratamiento con Penicilina G, evolucionando con secuelas neurológicas cognitivas-motoras. Si bien, la NS actualmente, ha anticipado y acelerado sus diferentes formas clínicas en relación a co-infección VIH/Sífilis. Lo llamativo de este caso, es la presentación concomitante de con manifestaciones precoces y tardías de NS en paciente VIH seronegativo. Se concluye que la NS sigue siendo una enfermedad vigente y su diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno previene secuelas neurológicas irreversibles.

Cerebral Syphilitic Gummata Mimicking Metastatic Brain Tumors

No abstract available.

A Case of Cerebral Gumma Presenting as Brain Tumor in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Negative Patient

Syphilis, along with the recent increase of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients, has also been on the rise. It has a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, among which cerebral gumma is, a kind of neurosyphilis, however, it is rare and can be cured by penicillin. Thus, cerebral gumma needs to be differentially diagnosed from other brain masses that may be present in syphilis patients. We have experienced a case where the patient was first suspected of brain tumor, but confirmed by surgery to be cerebral gumma due to neurosyphilis. This is the first such case encountered in Korea, therefore, we report it here in. A 40-year old woman complaining of headaches was found to have a brain mass on her CT scans and MRI. Suspecting a brain Tumor, a resection was performed on the patient, and histological results revealed that the central portion of the mass contained necrotic material and the peripheral region was infiltrated with plasma cells. Warthin-Starry staining of the region revealed spirochetes, and the patient was thus diagnosed as brain gumma. Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was reactive. After an operation, penicillin-G at a daily dose of 24x10(6) U was given for 10 days from post-operative day 10, and thereafter, the mass disappeared.

A Case of Tuberculous Gumma / 대한피부과학회지

Tuberculous gumma is the result of a hematogenous dissemination of tubercle bacilli from a primary focus during a period of lowered resistance. This unusual disease affects undernourished children of low socioeconomic status or patients who are severely immunodepressed by a disease or therapy. A 68-year-old female patient presented with tender fluctuant erythematous nodules over both upper extremities, shoulder, back and buttock. The biopsy specimen from the fluctuant plaque of right forearm revealed granulomatous infiltration composed of Langhans giant cells, epitheloid cells, plasma cells, lymphocytes and neutrophils in the deep dermis. Numerous acid fast bacilli was identified in AFB staining. Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction technique in the specimen from the skin lesion. We here present a very unusual case of tuberculous gumma.

A Case of Tuberculous Gumma / 대한피부과학회지

Tuberculous gumma is the result of a hematogenous dissemination of tubercle bacilli from a primary focus during a period of lowered resistance. This unusual disease affects undernourished children of low socioeconomic status or patients who are severely immunodepressed by a disease or therapy. A 68-year-old female patient presented with tender fluctuant erythematous nodules over both upper extremities, shoulder, back and buttock. The biopsy specimen from the fluctuant plaque of right forearm revealed granulomatous infiltration composed of Langhans giant cells, epitheloid cells, plasma cells, lymphocytes and neutrophils in the deep dermis. Numerous acid fast bacilli was identified in AFB staining. Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction technique in the specimen from the skin lesion. We here present a very unusual case of tuberculous gumma.