A Rare Case of Lupus Carcinoma of External Nose

Abstract

Cutaneous tuberculosis was once a common disease. In the recent decade because of improved living environment, BCG vaccination and effective antituberculous drugs, this disease is less common. Different forms of cutaneous tuberculosis are lupus vulgaris, scrofuloderma, tuberculosis verrucosa cutis, lichen scrofulosorum, erythema induratum, papulonecrotic tuberculid [1]. Amongst these morphological variants commonest one is lupus vulgaris constituting 59% of total skin tuberculosis. This is a chronic, progressive and tissue-destructive form of cutaneous tuberculosis seen in patients with moderate or high degree of immunity. Head and neck regions are the commonest sites involved by lupus vulgaris in European countries [2]. Lupus vulgaris can undergo malignant change in 0.5% to 10.5%. The interval from the onset of lupus vulgaris to the occurrence of malignancy ranges from 2 to 79 years. Lupus vulgaris undergoing malignant change is referred to as lupus carcinoma [3].