Keloidal plaque in a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis: A rare morphological variant of tuberculosis verrucosa cutis

Tuberculosis verrucosa cutis ( TVC), also known as warty tuberculosis, anatomist's wart or prosector's wart is characterized by the presence of verrucous plaque-like lesions, resulting from direct inoculation of the causative organism into the skin of a previously infected patient. A 59-year-old man presented with a hyperpigmented plaque on the chest wall which closely mimicked a keloid. He was a case of sputum-positive pulmonary tuberculosis and had repeatedly been applying early morning saliva on the lesion as a part of the indigenous practices for quick healing. There was further progression of the lesion with discharge from several sites. A smear for acid fast bacilli was positive from the discharge and growth on Lowenstein Jensen medium revealed growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Biopsy was compatible with TVC and the patient was started on 6 months anti-tubercular therapy. However, the plaque continued to persist with continuing discharge from multiple openings which necessitated surgical intervention, finally leading to near complete resolution of the plaque of TVC. (C) 2014 Asian-African Society for Mycobacteriology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.