A case of tuberculosis verrucosa cutis--undiagnosed for 44 years and resulting in fixed-flexion deformity of the arm.

Tuberculosis verrucosa cutis (TBVC) is a paucibacillary form of cutaneous tuberculosis caused by exogenous re-infection in previously sensitized individuals. Here, we report an unusual case of TBVC in a 53-year-old Chinese woman that had been present for 44 years and resulted in fixed-flexion deformity of her arm and functional disability. The diagnosis was made by a positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and she responded well to antituberculous therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first such case of TBVC reported in the English literature with sequelae of functional impairment of the arm.