Case Report: Clinical and Pathological Findings of Tuberculous Gumma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2024 Mar 12;110(4):805-808. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0510. Print 2024 Apr 3.

Abstract

Tuberculous gumma (TG) is a rare type of cutaneous tuberculosis thought to occur as a result of the hematogenous spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is more common in immunosuppressed individuals. An 8-year-old boy presented with a 2-month history of multiple indolent enlarging ulcerated nodules on his left upper extremity. He had a past medical history of bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine induced lupus vulgaris. Skin biopsy of the nodules showed granulomas and neutrophil-dominated purulent inflammation. Ziehl-Neelsen staining was negative, and the cultures were positive for M. tuberculosis. Furthermore, the M. tuberculosis complex was identified using metagenomic next-generation sequencing. Standard antitubercular therapy was started at full doses, and the skin lesions had significantly improved 3 months later. Here we review the literature since 2000 and describe the clinical and pathological features of TG.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Lupus Vulgaris* / pathology
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis*
  • Skin / pathology
  • Tuberculosis, Cutaneous* / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis, Cutaneous* / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents