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| THROUGH THE DERMOSCOPE |
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| Year : 2021 | Volume
: 12
| Issue : 1 | Page : 206-207 |
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Dermoscopy of tuberculosis verrucosa cutis
Deepak Jakhar1, Rakesh K Gupta1, Namrata Sarin2
1 Department of Dermatology, North Delhi Municipal Corporation Medical College and Hindu Rao Hospital, New Delhi, India
2 Department of Pathology, North Delhi Municipal Corporation Medical College and Hindu Rao Hospital, New Delhi, India
| Date of Submission | 17-Jun-2019 |
| Date of Decision | 20-Dec-2019 |
| Date of Acceptance | 22-Jun-2020 |
| Date of Web Publication | 28-Sep-2020 |
Correspondence Address:
Deepak Jakhar
Department of Dermatology, North Delhi Municipal Corporation Medical College and Hindu Rao Hospital, New Delhi - 110 007
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_292_19
How to cite this article:
Jakhar D, Gupta RK, Sarin N. Dermoscopy of tuberculosis verrucosa cutis. Indian Dermatol Online J 2021;12:206-7 |
A 45-year-old female presented with a single erythematous, scaly plaque (1.5 × 1.0 cm) over the right elbow for the past 5 years [Figure 1]a. There was no itching, pain, or loss of sensation over the plaque. Rest of the mucocutaneous examination was non-contributory. Patient gave history of pulmonary tuberculosis 6 years back and took category-I anti-tuberculosis treatment for 6 months. Based on history and clinical examination, a differential diagnosis of tuberculosis verrucosa cutis (TBVC) and lupus vulgaris (LV) was made. Dermoscopy of the lesion at lower magnification [Dermlite 4Gen; 10×; polarising] showed yellowish to reddish background with papillated surface and dirty white thick scales. Yellowish brown areas were visible at places and vascular structures were inconspicuously seen [Figure 1]b. On higher magnification [Dinolite AM4115ZT; 50×; polarising], irregularly dilated vessels within the individual papillae were seen along with yellow-orange globular and structureless areas [Figure 2]a. Histology from the lesion showed hyperkeratosis, papillomatosis, acanthosis, epithelioid cell granulomas with many Langhan's giant cells [inset of [Figure 2]b] and mixed inflammatory infiltrate [Figure 2]b. Based on histology, the diagnosis of TBVC was confirmed. | Figure 1: Erythematous scaly plaque over the right elbow (a); Polarisingdermoscopy showing yellowish to reddish background with papillated surface (black star), dirty white thick scales (red arrow), yellowish brown areas (blue arrow) and out of focus vascular structures (green arrow) (b). [Dermlite 4 Gen; 10×; polarising]
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 | Figure 2: Videodermoscopic image showing irregularly dilated vessels (black arrow), yellow to orange color areas (blue arrow) [Dinolite AM4115ZT; 50×; polarising] (a); histology showing hyperkeratosis, papillomatosis, acanthosis, epithelioid cell granulomas with many Langhan's giant cells (black arrow) & mixed inflammatory infiltrate (b) [H&E; 10×]. The inset showing epithelioid cell granuloma and Langhan's giant cell [H&E; 40×]
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Dermoscopy of cutaneous tuberculosis (CTB), except lupus vulgaris (LV), is a not described thoroughly in English literature.[1] Fine focused telangiectasia on a yellow to orange background are typically described for LV and are correlated with apple jelly sign. However, other forms of CTB are vaguely described. Our case shows the utility of dermoscopy in aiding the diagnosis of TBVC. The dermoscopic features showed good correlation with the histological features of TBVC. White thick scales represent hyperkeratosis, papillated surface represent papillomatosis, yellow-orange globular and structureless areas represent epithelioid cell granulomas with Langhan giant cell. A study has shown increased microvessel count in TBVC as compared to LV.[2] Increased blood vessels results due to cytokine release, reactive oxygen species, and angiogenesis. But due to prominent epidermal changes like hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and papillomatosis, the visibility of this vasculature is masked in TBVC and they appear as out of focus vascular structures. In LV, due to relatively lesser epidermal changes as compared to TBVC, telegiectasia are visible on dermoscopy in addition to apple jelly sign. Dermoscopic differentiation from chromoblastomycosis and viral warts also becomes essential in such cases. Dermoscopy of chromoblastomycosis shows yellow orange ovoid structures over a pink and white areas along with scales and crusts; and scattered red-black dots.[3] Warts with dermoscopic mosaic pattern shows flat to rounded structures and/or exophytic projection (corresponding to church-spire papillomatosis) with dotted, linear, or hairpin vessels within the rounded structures/exophytic projections; white circle to yellow surface keratosis (corresponding to hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, and acanthosis) and black dots (corresponding to thrombosed vessels and epidermal hemorrhages).[4]
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
 References | |  |
| 1. | Brasiello M, Zalaudek I, Ferrara G, Gourhant JY, Capoluongo P, Roma P, et al. Lupus vulgaris: A new look at an old symptom--The lupoma observed with dermoscopy. Dermatology 2009;218:172-4.  |
| 2. | Bhandarkar SS, Lanka P, Lanka LR, Veledar E, Bonner MY, MacKelfresh J, et al. Tuberculosis verrucosa cutis lesions exhibit a greater microvessel count than lupus vulgaris lesions. Exp Dermatol 2016;25:479-80. |
| 3. | Chauhan P, Jindal R, Shirazi N. Dermoscopy of chromoblastomycosis. Indian Dermatol Online J 2019;10:759-60. [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
| 4. | Li X, Yu J, Thomas S, Lee K, Soyer HP. Clinical and dermoscopic features of common warts. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2017;31:e308-10. |
[Figure 1], [Figure 2]
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