Tuberculous chancre in the present-day scenario: a case report

Cutaneous tuberculosis is an extrapulmonary form of tuberculosischaracterized by distinct clinical and histopathologicalpresentations. Tuberculous chancre, a form of primary inoculationtuberculosis, primarily affects individuals with no natural oracquired immunity against the tubercle bacilli. It is commonlyacquired after minor trauma or any traumatic procedures. Initially,it starts as a papule or nodule that gets ulcerated. The ulcer istypically painless, has undermined bluish margins, is friable innature, and heals with atrophic scarring. If left untreated, it canlead to various complications. The tuberculous chancre respondswell to antituberculous therapy. The emergence of resistant strainsand the AIDS epidemic led to a global resurgence of cutaneoustuberculosis in the last century. Hence, awareness of the clinicalmanifestations of cutaneous tuberculosis is necessary for its earlydiagnosis and management. We report a case of tuberculouschancre in a 45-year-old previously healthy male.