Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Author Spotlight: Comparative Imaging of Neural Activity in Awake and Freely Moving States
Published on: January 19, 2024
Colored pencil-core granuloma on the forehead
1Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
A rare colored pencil injury in a child led to a rapidly growing tumor. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial due to potential severe tissue damage and skull resorption.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pathology
- Ophthalmology
- Foreign Body Injury
Background:
- Injuries from pencils and colored pencils are common in young children.
- Segmental tumor formation following such injuries is exceptionally rare.
Observation:
- A 4-year-old boy sustained a stab wound under his left eyebrow from a red pencil.
- The injury resulted in rapid tumor growth within days.
Findings:
- Intraoperative and histopathologic examination confirmed a colored pencil-core granuloma.
- The colorant in the pencil caused severe tissue damage, leading to the granuloma formation.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for severe, rapid tumor growth from colored pencil injuries.
- Early recognition and intervention are vital to prevent complications like skull resorption in facial injuries.
Abstract:
We often encounter injuries caused by pencils or colored pencils in toddlers and young children, but subsequent segmental tumor formation is rare. Here we report the case of a 4-year-old boy who had been stabbed under his left eyebrow with a red pencil. Colored pencil-core granuloma, a foreign body granuloma arising from an injury with a colored pencil, was diagnosed on the basis of intraoperative and histopathologic findings. Because of the severe tissue damage that the colorant causes, this type of tumor grows rapidly within a few days and may be accompanied by resorption of the skull if it occurs on the head or face.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Sutures of the Skull
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
01:11Papillary Dermis
The dermis might be considered the "core" of the integumentary system, as distinct from the epidermis and hypodermis. It contains blood and lymph vessels, nerves, and other structures, such as hair follicles and sweat glands. The dermis is made of two layers of connective tissue that comprise an interconnected mesh of elastin and collagenous fibers, produced by fibroblasts.
Papillary Layer
The papillary layer is made of loose, areolar connective tissue, which means the collagen...
01:08Overview of the Skull
The cranial vault surrounds and protects the brain and houses the middle and inner ear structures. This cavity is bounded superiorly by the rounded top of the skull, which...
01:19Veins of Head and Neck
On the other hand, the vertebral veins, unlike their arterial counterparts, are not primarily responsible for brain drainage. Instead, they drain the cervical vertebrae, spinal cord, and some small...
01:30Skin Cancer
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
01:14Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...