Tattoo Pigment–Induced Granulomatous Lymphadenopathy Mimicking Lymphoma
Authors: Jad Othman, Elizabeth Robbins, Edmund M. Lau, Cindy Mak, Christian Bryant
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2017)

Letters5 December 2017Tattoo Pigment–Induced Granulomatous Lymphadenopathy Mimicking LymphomaJad Othman, MBBS, Elizabeth Robbins, BM, Edmund M. Lau, BSc, MBBS, PhD, Cindy Mak, MBBS, and Christian Bryant, BSc, MBBS, PhDJad Othman, MBBSRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.O., E.R., E.M.L., C.B.)Search for more papers by this author, Elizabeth Robbins, BMRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.O., E.R., E.M.L., C.B.)Search for more papers by this author, Edmund M. Lau, BSc, MBBS, PhDRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.O., E.R., E.M.L., C.B.)Search for more papers by this author, Cindy Mak, MBBSChris O’Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, Australia (C.M.)Search for more papers by this author, and Christian Bryant, BSc, MBBS, PhDRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.O., E.R., E.M.L., C.B.)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L17-0424 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Background: Decorative tattooing is associated with acute complications, such as pain, infection, and hypersensitivity. Delayed reactions also occur, including regional lymphadenopathy that may masquerade as malignant disease (1–3).Objective: To describe a case of tattoo pigment–induced lymphadenopathy that mimicked the clinical and radiologic features of lymphoma.Case Report: A 30-year-old woman presented to our clinic reporting a 2-week history of bilateral axillary lumps noted on self-examination. She had no fever, night sweats, weight loss, or pulmonary symptoms. She had a history of cluster headaches and had had breast augmentation surgery at age 19 years. Her only medication was an oral ...References1. Bordea C, Latifaj B, Jaffe W. Delayed presentation of tattoo lymphadenopathy mimicking malignant melanoma lymphadenopathy. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2009;62:e283-5. [PMID: 18249051] doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2007.11.039 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Jack CM, Adwani A, Krishnan H. Tattoo pigment in an axillary lymph node simulating metastatic malignant melanoma. Int Semin Surg Oncol. 2005;2:28. [PMID: 16321151] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Beavis A, Amneus M, Aoyama C, Holschneider CH. Tattoo pigment lymphadenopathy mimicking metastasis in vulvar cancer. Obstet Gynecol. 2012;120:442-4. [PMID: 22825260] doi:10.1097/AOG.0b013e3182583be2 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Heywood W, Patrick K, Smith AM, Simpson JM, Pitts MK, Richters J, et al. Who gets tattoos? Demographic and behavioral correlates of ever being tattooed in a representative sample of men and women. Ann Epidemiol. 2012;22:51-6. [PMID: 22153289] doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.10.005 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Simunovic C, Shinohara MM. Complications of decorative tattoos: recognition and management. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2014;15:525-36. [PMID: 25385257] doi:10.1007/s40257-014-0100-x CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia (J.O., E.R., E.M.L., C.B.)Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, Australia (C.M.)Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L17-0424.This article was published at Annals.org on 3 October 2017. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byUncommon finding of a “black node” in a patient with malignant melanoma and arthroplasty: A case reportDistribution of Tattoo Pigment in Lymph Nodes Dissected for Gynecological Malignancy 5 December 2017Volume 167, Issue 11Page: 830-831KeywordsC-reactive proteinsDisclosureGranulomasHypersensitivityLymph nodesLymphomaSarcoidosisStandardized uptake valueThoraxWeight loss ePublished: 3 October 2017 Issue Published: 5 December 2017 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2017 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...