Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA using the Polymerase Chain Reaction in Paraffin - embedded Biopsy Specimens of Skin tuberculosis.
- Author:
Hang Kye SHIN
;
Kyung Sool KWON
;
Tae Ahn CHUNG
- Publication Type:Original Article
- MeSH:
Biopsy*;
Diagnosis;
DNA*;
Humans;
Lupus Vulgaris;
Mycobacterium tuberculosis*;
Mycobacterium*;
Paraffin*;
Polymerase Chain Reaction*;
Skin*;
Tuberculosis;
Tuberculosis, Cutaneous*
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
1994;32(6):990-997
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: A presumptive diagnosis of cutaneous tuberculosis can be made on the basis of patients' history, clinical and histologic findings. However, isolation of Mycobacerum tuberculosis is required for a definitive diagnosis and confirmation can be difficult with traditional techniques, including the direct visualization in tissue and growth in culture. OBJECTIVE: We used polymerase chain reaction(PCR) for the detection of mycobacterial DNA from routinely prepared formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin specimens to evaluate its usefulness as a diagnostic tool. METHOD: We studied typical cases of localized cutaneous tuberculosis. Ten paraffin-embedded biopsy samples obtained from 2 patients with scrofuloderma, lupus vulgaris and tuberculosis verrucosa cutis were analyzed by PCR, respectively. RESULTS: M. tuerculosis DNA was demonstrated in all 10 specimens. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the PCR will be a useful method for the confirmation of the diagnosis in localized cutaneous tuberculosis and many skin lesions thought to be related to M. tuberculosis infection.
