LAUSR

To the Editor: A 48‐year‐old woman presented with a plaque on her left helix that had persisted for 20 years, erythemas and scales on both earlobes present for 9 months, and papules on both thighs present for 6 months. Neither she nor her family had any special history. Physical examination revealed a well‐circumscribed, dark‐red plaque on her left helix, and red erythema on both her earlobes, with adherent scales and red papules symmetrically distributed on both thighs with crust and scale [Figure 1a]. Routine examinations showed no abnormal findings. Pathological examination of the left helix showed that the epidermis was thin, with flattening of the rete ridges and many epithelioid granulomas with local caseous necrosis, accompanied by infiltration of lymphocytes into the dermis, multinucleated giant cells were not remarkable [Figure 1b]. In addition, acid‐fast staining yielded negative results. The earlobe biopsy showed epidermal hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis, liquefaction degeneration of the basal cells, and follicular keratotic plugging, and the blood vessels and skin appendages surrounded by lymphocytes in the dermis [Figure 1c]. The thigh biopsy showed epidermal hyperkeratosis and local parakeratosis, and palisading granuloma in the dermis, accompanied by progressive necrosis of the central collagen with mucin deposition [Figure 1d]. A tuberculin (purified protein derivative [PPD]) test performed on the forearm was strongly positive. Polymerase chain reaction for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in both the left helix plaque and the thigh papule was negative. Therefore, a diagnosis of lupus vulgaris was made for the left helix; both earlobes were diagnosed with discoid lupus erythematosus, and both thighs with papulonecrotic tuberculid.