[Cutaneous foreign body granulomas following cervico-facial arterial embolization: Three cases]

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Plastic Surgery
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Foreign body granuloma is an inflammatory reaction to exogenous materials, often seen post-cosmetic procedures.
• This report details three novel cases of facial granulomatous reactions following arterial cervico-facial embolization using microbeads.

Observation:

• Three patients developed painful, inflammatory facial nodules 10-45 days after embolization with Embogold® microbeads.
• Histopathology revealed giant cell inflammatory response and microbead presence in the skin.

Findings:

• Embogold® microspheres caused local inflammation, vascular wall destruction, and bead migration, leading to granulomatous reactions.
• The occurrence of three cases was surprising given the product's history and lack of patient comorbidities or trauma.
• Gold staining may contribute to severe inflammatory responses to Embogold® particles.

Implications:

• Facial nodules post-embolization warrant consideration of foreign body granulomatous reactions.
• Colchicine may be a viable therapeutic option for managing these reactions.
• Further investigation into Embogold® particle properties and inflammatory potential is recommended.