Poorly Differentiated Squamous Cell Carcinoma Arising in Tattooed Skin. (5th January 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sarma, Deba P.; Dentlinger, Renee B.; Forystek, Amanda M.; Stevens, Todd; Huerter, Christopher
• Other Names: Ottenhoff T. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Case reports in medicine. Volume 2010(2010)
• Publication Date: 2011-01-05
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Case Reports; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1155/2010/431813
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-9627

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction . Tattoos have increasingly become accepted by mainstream Western society. As a result, the incidence of tattoo-associated dermatoses is on the rise. The presence of a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma in an old tattooed skin is of interest as it has not been previously documented. Case Presentation . A 79-year-old white homeless man of European descent presented to the dermatology clinic with a painless raised nodule on his left forearm arising in a tattooed area. A biopsy of the lesion revealed a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma infiltrating into a tattoo. The lesion was completely excised and the patient remains disease-free one year later. Conclusion . All previous reports of squamous cell carcinomas arising in tattoos have been well-differentiated low-grade type or keratoacanthoma-type and are considered to be coincidental rather than related to any carcinogenic effect of the tattoo pigments. Tattoo-associated poorly differentiated invasive carcinoma appears to be extremely rare.