Dermatology Online Journal

Tuberculosis Verrucosa Cutis (TBVC), a verrucous form of cutaneous tuberculosis, occurs from inoculation of tubercle bacilli into the skin of a previously sensitized patient with moderate to high degree of immunity. This disease is now rare in western countries and in India; the incidence of cutaneous tuberculosis has fallen from 2% to 0.15%. However two recent studies from the Indian subcontinent have reported the prevalence of cutaneous tuebrculosis as 0.7% (Varshney et al) and 0.26% (Patra et al)

This case is reported to demonstrate the indolent and extensive nature of tuberculosis verrucosa cutis in an immunocompetent individual and to highlight the importance of histopathology and empirical antitubercular therapy as an adjunct diagnostic tool.