Concurrent Keratoacanthomas and Nonsarcoidal Granulomatous Reactions in New and Preexisting Tattoos
Practice Points
- Keratoacanthomas (KAs) are common keratinizing, squamous cell lesions of follicular origin distinguished by their eruptive onset, rapid growth, and spontaneous involution.
- The etiology of KAs remains controversial, but several factors have been correlated with their development, including UV light exposure, chemical carcinogenesis, genetic predisposition, viruses (namely human papillomavirus infection), immunosuppression, scarring disorders, and trauma (including tattoos).
- Because of the unusual histology of KAs and their tendency to spontaneously regress, it is not totally understood where they fall on the benign vs malignant spectrum. Our case adds additional weight to the idea that some KAs are primarily reactive phenomena sharing features of other reactive cutaneous proliferations such as foreign body granulomas.
To the Editor:
Cutaneous reactions to tattoos are common and histologically diverse. As outlined by Jacob,1 these reactions can be categorized into 4 main groups: inoculative/infective, hypersensitive, neoplastic, and coincidental. A thorough history and physical examination can aid in distinguishing the type of cutaneous reaction, but diagnosis often requires histopathologic clarification. We report the case of a patient who presented with painful indurated nodules within red ink areas of new and preexisting tattoos.
A 48-year-old woman with no prior medical conditions presented with tender pruritic nodules at the site of a new tattoo and within recently retouched tattoos of 5 months’ duration. The tattoos were done at an “organic” tattoo parlor 8 months prior to presentation. Simultaneously, the patient also developed induration and pain in 2 older tattoos that had been done 10 years prior and had not been retouched.
,Physical examination revealed 2 smooth and serpiginous nodules nested perfectly within the new red tattoo on the left medial ankle (Figure 1A). Examination of the retouched tattoos on the dorsum of the right foot revealed 4 discrete nodules within the red, heart-shaped areas of the tattoos (Figure 2A). Additionally, the red-inked portions of an older tattoo on the left lateral calf that were outlined in red ink also were raised and indurated (Figure 3A), and a tattoo on the right volar wrist, also in red ink, was indurated and tender to palpation. The remainder of the physical examination was normal.
contiguous dilated follicular infundibula with atypical keratinocytes that had hyperchromatic nuclei, consistent with a keratoacanthoma, as well as a lymphocytic infiltrate in the dermis above a dense infiltrate of lymphocytes and histiocytes (H&E, original magnification ×2.5 [original magnification ×6.2]).
The lesions continued to enlarge and become increasingly painful despite trials of fluticasone propionate cream 0.05%, clobetasol propionate gel 0.05%, a 7-day course of oral levofloxacin, and a 10-day course of oral amoxicillin-clavulanate. Ultimately, a shave biopsy from the new tattoo on the left medial ankle revealed an early keratoacanthoma (KA)(Figure 1B). Subsequent shave biopsies of the retouched tattoos on the dorsal foot and the preexisting tattoo on the calf revealed KAs and a granulomatous reaction, respectively (Figures 2B and 3B). The left ankle KA was treated with 2 injections of 5-fluorouracil without improvement. The patient ultimately underwent Mohs micrographic surgery of the left ankle KA and underwent total excision with skin graft.
