Cutaneous reaction induced by retained bee stinger

The clinical features and histopathologic findings of a 54-year-old Korean male who had retained the sting apparatus of a bee for four months are described. The clinical features showed ulcerative, erythematous plaques with irregular borders which resembled cutaneous neoplasms such as squamous cell carcinoma. Histopathologic findings included epidermal necrosis and marked pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia. In the dermis, the stick-shaped sting apparatus of the bee was demonstrated and intense lymphohistiocytic and eosinophilic infiltrations were noted.