ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous tuberculosis diagnosis is difficult because of clinical polymorphism. Our goal was to study the clinical, epidemiological and evolutionary characteristics of cutaneous tuberculosis in Dakar. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study from 1972 to 2005 of the tuberculosis cutaneous cases in our department. All cases which fulfilled clinical, epidemiological, the tuberculin test positive, bacteriogical and histological characteristics of cutaneous involvement were studied. RESULTS: Our study included 151 cases (75 men, 73 women). Clinical features were: scrofuloderma (84,76%), gomma (11,25%), periorificial tuberculosis (1,98%), lupus tuberculosis (1,98%), verrucosa tuberculosis (2,64%) and BCGite (0,66%). Pulmonary (26,5%), osteoarticular (8,6%), neurological (0,66%) were the man visceral involvements. Tuberculine test was highly positive in 66,22% of cases and HIV test was positive in 14,28%. Healing occurred after 1 or 2 month of treatment in all patients. Recidivation occurred in 3 patients and 3 patients died. Cure occurred in 23 patients after 8 to 12 month of treatment. CONCLUSION: Cutaneous tuberculosis is still endemic in Senegal. Scrofuloderma and gumma are the two main clinical presentations. Diagnosis was based on skin tuberculine test positive and histological granuloma.
