Related Experiment Videos
Delayed reaction to "lead" pencil simulating melanoma.
B Taylor1, A Frumkin, J V Pitha
1Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City.
Cutis
|September 1, 1988
Summary
A pencil injury can cause a long-term skin lesion that mimics melanoma. Histology confirmed exogenous pigment and a foreign body reaction, not cancer.
Area of Science:
- Dermatopathology
- Foreign Body Reactions
- Exogenous Pigmentation
Background:
- Penetrating injuries can lead to delayed cutaneous manifestations.
- Long-term foreign body presence in the skin is uncommon.
Observation:
- A 74-year-old male presented with a 58-year-old dark gray macule on his right lower leg.
- The macule evolved into an enlarging black nodule, clinically suspicious for melanoma.
Findings:
- Histologic examination revealed exogenous pigment consistent with graphite.
- Evidence of a foreign body reaction was present around the pigment.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering exogenous pigment in the differential diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions.
- Delayed presentation of foreign body granulomas can mimic malignancy, necessitating thorough histopathological evaluation.