TUBERCULOSIS OF THE SKIN IN HONG KOKG (A REVIEW OF 160 CASES)

SUMMARY.— 160 cases of tuberculosis of the skin seen in the Government Dermatological Clinics in Hong Kong are reviewed.
Tuberculosis verrucosa was the commonest form and accounted for 46% of cases. The onset was below the age of 20 in 77% of these patients.
The distribution of the lesions differed from that reported by most recent authors. The knees, thighs and buttocks were commonly affected.
In 3 of 9 cases of papulonecrotic tuberculid in men the penis was involved.
The degree of sensitivity to tuberculin appeared to be similar in all forms of cutaneous tuberculosis.
Pulmonary infection was associated in about 10% of cases of cutaneous tuberculosis.
The factors possibly responsible for the differences between the present and other series of cases are briefly discussed.