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Eosinophilic foreign body granuloma after multiple self-administered bee stings
1Department of Dermatology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Chonbuk, Korea.
The British Journal of Dermatology
|February 17, 1999
Summary
A bee sting can cause a foreign body granuloma. Self-induced bee stings led to a large facial tumor, successfully treated with carbon dioxide laser vaporization.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pathology
Background:
- Bee stings can trigger foreign body granulomas in the skin due to macrophage activation.
- Granulomas are inflammatory responses to foreign substances or infections.
Observation:
- A 52-year-old woman developed a large, doughnut-shaped ulcerative facial tumor.
- The tumor grew from a small papule to a 4.0 x 3.9 x 1.1 cm mass over one year following self-induced bee stings.
- Histology revealed epidermal ulceration and granulomatous inflammation with eosinophils, without identifiable microorganisms or foreign bodies.
Findings:
- The patient's condition mimicked a tumor but was histologically a granuloma.
- Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide treatment was ineffective.
- Carbon dioxide laser vaporization achieved an excellent outcome for the facial lesion.
Implications:
- This case highlights an unusual presentation of foreign body granuloma following bee stings.
- It suggests that carbon dioxide laser vaporization is a viable and effective treatment for such lesions.
- The case underscores the importance of considering iatrogenic or self-induced factors in dermatological presentations.