International Journal of Mycobacteriology 3 (2014) 66– 70

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Review Tuberculous gummas with sporotrichoid pattern in a 57-year-old female: A case report and review of the literature

I. Hadj a,*, M. Meziane a, O. Mikou a, K. Inani a, T. Harmouch b, F.Z. Mernissi c,a a Department of Dermatology, CHU Hassan II, Fe`s, Morocco b Laboratory of Pathology, CHU Hassan II, Fe`s, Morocco c CHU Hassan II, Fe`s, Morocco

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article history: Sporotrichoid is a rare form of cutaneous tuberculosis; it primarily affects chil- Received 18 September 2013 dren after a post-traumatic inoculation. The diagnosis is often difficult and based on a set Received in revised form of arguments; it should be considered in any sporotrichoid lesion, especially in tuberculosis 22 October 2013 endemic countries. The following describes a new case of tuberculosis skin Accepted 22 October 2013 infection with an unusual sporotrichoid clinical appearance in a healthy woman, empha- Available online 20 November 2013 sizing the diagnostic difficulties with a review of literature. Ó 2013 Asian-African Society for Mycobacteriology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights Keywords: reserved. Cutaneous tuberculosis Sporotrichoid pattern Gummas

Contents

Introduction ...... 66 Case report ...... 68 Discussion...... 68 Conclusion ...... 70 Conflict of interest ...... 70 References...... 70

Introduction

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium Morocco (25,000 new cases/year). Cutaneous tuberculosis tuberculosis (MTB); it is endemic in several countries, including is the fifth most common form after pleuropulmonary,

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +212 66230203; fax: +212 0535550134. E-mail address: [email protected] (I. Hadj). 2212-5531/$ - see front matter Ó 2013 Asian-African Society for Mycobacteriology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmyco.2013.10.007 Table 1 – Details of patients with sporotrichoid cutaneous tuberculosis in literature. Age (years)/sex Clinical features Satellite Duration Entry Investigations Treatment Evolution of disease mechanism

Premalatha [2] 17/F Crusted plaques/ + 6 months ND TST = 25 m Histo = Streptomycine, Favorable right lower limb EGGC, NC+, AFB+ INH, Ethambutol nentoa ora fMycobacteriology of Journal International Remenyik [3] 12/F 2 Nodules/ À 6 months Minor trauma TST = 13 mm Histo = INH, Rifam Favorable right upper limb EGGC, CNÀ, AFBÀ, PCR+ Ethambutol Ramesh [1] 11/M Plaques/ + 2 years ND TST = 16 mm Histo = DOTS(INH, Unfavorable right lower limb EGGC, AFBÀ Rifam PZA) 20/F 3–4 ulcers/ + 3 months ND TST = 20 mm Chronic DOTS Favorable left upper limb inflammatory infiltrate Few epitheloid cell granulomas AFBÀ 10/F Keratotic plaques/ + 1 year ND TST = 20 mm DOTS(INH, Favorable left lower limb Rifam PZA) Go¨ktay [4] 87/F Ulcerative nodules/ ND 1 year ND TST = 10 mm, AFB+, Levofloxacine Favorable right upper limb Histo = granulomatous Clarithromycine inflammation Wilson [5] 13/M 2 Ulcers/ + 1 month Visit to Ethiopia TST = 19 mm, Histo = Streptomycine Favorable right lower limb EGGC + necrosis Culture+ INH Ethambutol Fluctuant masses/ + ND ND AFB+ MRI upper limb = ATT Favorable

left upper limb intraosseous 66 (2014) 3 Computed tomography of the chest = lymphadenapathy neck, mediastinum MRI of the spine = signal abnormalities –

Zarra [7] 7/F Gums/ + 7 months Spread TST phlyctenular AFBÀ Histo ATT Favorable 70 right upper limb from visceral = non specific Chest X rays = localization pleural effusion TTE = pericardial effusion F = female, M=male; + present; À absente; ND = non determined; TST=tuberculine skin test; histo = histopatholgy; EGGC = epithelioid cell granuloma gigantocelular; CN = caseation necrosis; AFB = acid-fast bacilli; INH = isoniazid; PZA = pyrazinamide; PCR = polymerase chain reaction; DOTS = Directly Observed treatment, Short course; ATT = antitubercular treatment; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; TTE = Transthoracic echocardiography. 67 68 International Journal of Mycobacteriology 3 (2014) 66– 70

Fig. 3 – Erythematous subcutaneous nodules with ulceration at the back of the right foot.

examination revealed multiple erythematous subcutaneous nodules with ulceration and purulent discharge by location, along the right lower extremity (Figs. 1–3) and ipsilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy. The sputum smear microscopy was negative for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB); TST (tuberculin skin test) was positive (23 mm); skin biopsy showed an epithelioid cell granuloma gigantocellular with suppuration (Figs. 4 and 5); and PAS (Periodic Acid Schiff) staining did not reveal fungal Fig. 1 – Linear alignment of erythematous subcutaneous elements. A repeated smear microscopy in search of bacteri- nodules with ulceration along the right lower extremity. ological, parasitological and mycological elements with culture in special medium remained negative. Bone radiography of the lower right limb was normal and HIV serology was negative. The patient received an anti-tubercu- lar treatment (2 months of Rifampicin, Isoniazid and Pyrazin- amide and 4 months of Rifampicin and Isoniazid) with draining lesions after 2 months, regression of lymphadenopa- thy and complete healing after 5 months, and a follow-up period of 6 months. In this case, the diagnosis of tuberculous gummas with sporotrichoid pattern was based on the epide- miological situation, the TST, demonstration of granuloma- tous dermatitis, and regression following anti-tubercular therapy.

Fig. 2 – Multiple crusted plaques in sporotrichoid pattern. Discussion glandular, digestive and urogenital tract tuberculosis. The Tuberculous gummas with sporotrichoid pattern are excep- main clinical presentations are and gumma. tional [1]. This form of tuberculosis was described for the first Sporotrichoid form is an exceptional form. This study reports time by Premalatha [2] in 1987 in India, and then it has been a case of sporotrichoid cutaneous tuberculosis with review of reported in other countries (Hungary [3], India [1], Turkey [4], the literature (see Table 1). Canada [5], and Tunisia [6]). A review of the literature found only 10 cases of sporotrichoid tuberculosis, including the pa- Case report tient in this study, with a female predominance (8 female pa- tients/2 male). The majority of patients (6 patients) were A 57-year-old woman without medical history was hospital- children, and 4 adults with a mean age of 28.1 years. The ized for gummas of the right lower member lasting for point of entry in sporotrichoid tuberculosis is often a post- 2 years, starting at the back of the foot, with no notion of past traumatic skin wound [5]. Lesions involved the upper limbs trauma and extending upward to the root of the thigh. The and lower limbs equally (5/5) with a predominance of the International Journal of Mycobacteriology 3 (2014) 66– 70 69

Fig. 4 – Hematoxylin eosin X 20: epithelioid cell granuloma gigantocellular.

Fig. 5 – Hematoxylin eosin X 10: epithelioid cell granuloma gigantocellular with suppuration. right side (6/10) and may take the form of plaques [1] [2], The diagnosis is difficult to make, and it is based on a set nodules [3,4], or gummas [6]; moving by the classic stages of of arguments. The bacteriological examination can isolate crudity, softening fistula/ulceration with possible progression the germ in only one third of cases; the culture on to scarring after several months, they have the particularity to Lowenstein–Jensen medium is often negative. Histological have a linear distribution along a lymphatic pathway [7], of- study does not always provide definitive diagnosis [7],and ten with satellite lymph nodes (8/10). Sporotrichoid cutane- the culture of biopsy specimen is recommended [5].TSTis ous tuberculosis, as its name indicates, mimics the clinical often positive or phlyctenular, which is the same as the case aspects of sporotrichosis; the main differential diagnoses of multifocal tuberculosis reported by Zarra [6] from Tunisia. are: leishmania, sporotrichosis, , atypical The new genomic amplification techniques (PCR) now allow mycobacteria (), pyogenic infections the rapid identification of the organism, but they are rarely (Staphylococcus aureus, ), and deep fungal infec- realized in this context because of their cost, as is the case tions [3,8]. in this study. 70 International Journal of Mycobacteriology 3 (2014) 66– 70

Several therapeutic protocols are available; the most used REFERENCES is DOTS (directly observed treatment, short course), with a minimum of 6 months of treatment. A correct anti-tubercular treatment gives generally good results. [1] V. Ramesh, Sporotrichoid cutaneous tuberculosis, Clin. Exp. Dissemination in cases of sporotrichoid cutaneous tuber- Dermatol. 32 (2007) 680–682. culosis is often made from a post-traumatic skin wound [5], [2] S. Premalatha, N. Raghuveera Rao, V. Somasundaram, E.M. Abddulrazack, T.C. Muthuswami, Tuberculous gumma in but some authors speak of forms called segmental or inverse sporotrichoid pattern, Int. J. Dermatol. 26 (1987) 600–601. sporotrichoid [1], when the proximal half of the lower or [3] E. Remenyik, B. Nagy, M. Kiss, I. Veres, M. Sa´py, I. Horkay, et al, upper limb was affected due to retrograde lymphatic spread Sporotrichoid cutaneous mycobacterium tuberculosis from the lymph nodes or any other endogenous sites [5]. infection in a child, Acta Derm. Venereol. 85 (2005) 375–376. This form of tuberculosis is more common in cases of [4] F. Go¨ ktay, I.E. Aydingo¨ z, A.T. Mansur, M.F. Cobanoglu, C. immunosuppression, in children and young adults, because Cavusßoglu, Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex by of the efficient lymphatic drainage, their high physical activ- line probe assay in a case with sporotrichoid skin lesions, J. Eur. Acad. Dermatol. Venereol. 21 (6) (2007) 838–840. ity which makes them more prone to trauma [1], but which [5] W.S.C. Pau, H. AlSaffar, M. Weinstein, I. Kitai, Sporotrichoid- was not the case in this patient. like tuberculosis, Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 28 (12) (2009) 1135–1136. [6] I. Zaraa, S. Trojjet, F. Ishak, J. Cherif, H. Azouz, B. Louzir, et al, Conclusion Gommes tuberculeuses a` disposition sporotrichoide, Med. Trop. (Mars) 71 (1) (2011) 16. This case illustrates the diagnosis difficulties caused by the [7] J.J. Morand, E. Garnotel, F. Simon, E. Lightburn, Panorama de la tuberculose cutane´e, Med. Trop. (Mars) 66 (3) (2006) 229–236. sporotrichoid cutaneous tuberculosis; however, this diagnosis [8] E.H. Tobin, W.W. Jih, Sporotrichoid lymphocutaneous should be considered with any lesion showing a linear infections: etiology, diagnosis and therapy, Am. Fam. arrangement along the lymphatic vessels, especially in tuber- Physician 63 (2001) 326–332. culosis endemic countries.

Conflict of interest

None declared.