CUTANEOUS TUBERCULOSIS: CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL SPECTRUM AND DIAGNOSTIC CHALLENGES

Tuberculosis causes morbidity in millions of people per year and is one of the top 10 causes of mortality worldwide. Though pulmonary TB is the commonest form, extra–pulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB) carries its fair share of morbidity and mortality. The various extra–pulmonary sites are lymph nodes, intestines, bone, joints, meninges, skin, genitourinary tract. Cutaneous tuberculosis (CTB), though accounts for only 1–2% of extra–pulmonary TB (EPTB) cases, is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in developing countries because of high prevalence and huge population. The various types of CTB include Tuberculosis verrucose cutis (TBVC), Tuberculous chancre, Lupus vulgaris, Scrofuloderma, Orificial Tuberculosis, Tuberculous gumma and Acute miliary Tuberculosis. CTB follows a wide immunological spectrum ranging from low immunity with high bacillary load to high immunity with low bacillary load. The diagnostic techniques like Histopathology, AFB staining, TB Culture and molecular PCR testing remains the mainstay for diagnosis importance of whom may vary type to type basis of CTB.