Atypical Cutaneous Tuberculosis

Cutaneous tuberculosis has become a rarity on this continent, while its incidence is still considerable in many parts of the world. Tanimura and Sano1list the incidence of tuberculosis of the skin as 1.2% of all skin diseases registered at the University outdoor clinics of Osaka in Japan. Gnuzdev2reported 118 cases of cutaneous tuberculosis treated since 1952 in European Russia, using streptomycin, isoniazid, and PAS. Riehl and Lofferer3reported 54% cure in 1949, while 84% responded favorably in 1957, and attributed this therapeutic improvement to the use of isoniazid preparations. They claim that INH alone is superior to its combination with streptomycin and PAS. Marchionini and Roeckl4and Kiming Schulz5came to similar conclusions. The following case of cutaneous tuberculosis appears of interest because of its long duration and its extent and because an unusual type of Mycobacterium appeared to be the causative organism