Lupus Vulgaris: A Diagnostic Challenge

Abstract

Lupus vulgaris is a clinical variant of cutaneous tuberculosis, a rare subtype of extrapulmonary infection caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. A paucibacillary form associated with high degrees of immunity, predominantly in the face, may present several clinical and histopathological differential diagnoses, which makes its diagnosis challenging. We present a case of lupus vulgaris in an immunocompetent patient, whose initial clinical presentation and histopathology did not suggest the condition. The objective is to highlight the relevance of the hypothesis of cutaneous tuberculosis as an important differential diagnosis, especially in endemic areas.