Tuberculosis fungosa serpiginosa

Last Updated: 2023-07-07

Author(s): Anzengruber F., Navarini A.

ICD11: -

Rare cutaneous form of tuberculosis with "fungal" skin lesions.

  • Very rare cutaneous tuberculosis
  • V.a. in the elderly

Both by exogenous and endogenous inoculation.

  • Localisation
    • Forearms and back of the hand
  • Papillomatous, fistulous, perforating growths through which a turbid or purulent secretion may be discharged

  • Travel history
  • clinic
  • Tuberculin test is negative
  • Quantiferone test
  • Microscopic detection of the pathogen is possible, however
  • Biopsy (both dermatopathological and microbiological examination)
  • Thoracic X-ray or CT chest
  • Sonography of the abdomen and kidneys
  • In the morning (fasting up to 4h) on 3 consecutive days, sputum must be collected
  • Pass urine in the morning on 3 consecutive days (fluid restriction the evening before!)
  • Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)

Forearms and back of the hands.

Tuberculoid granulomas with inflammatory infiltrate.

  1. Handog, E. (2016). Cutaneous manifestations of tuberculosis. Uptodate.com. Retrieved 24 May 2016, from http://www.uptodate.com/contents/cutaneous-manifestations-of-tuberculosis?source=search_result&search=tuberkulosis+skin&selectedTitle=1~16
  2. Haas, W. (2016). RKI - RKI-Ratgeber für Ärzte - Tuberkulose. Rki.de. Retrieved 24 May 2016, from https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/Infekt/EpidBull/Merkblaetter/Ratgeber_Tuberkulose.html#doc2374486bodyText3