Introduction
Decorative tattoos have become more popular throughout the decades. When someone receives a tattoo the ink is injected into either the dermis or epidermis with a needle. Through various case studies with over 30 years of receiving the tattoo, patients contracted lymphadenopathy, a disease affecting the lymph nodes [1]. Lymph nodes are found all throughout the body including: armpits, epicondyles, pelvis, and neck. Depending on the trauma the tattoo has gone through or the color ink the patient used in their tattoo, patients acquired symptoms resembling melanoma within their lymph nodes. Through trauma or the type ink color, the ink particles travel through the lymphatic system and settle in the lymph nodes. The white blood cells …show more content…
Doctors then revealed a thigh melanoma, a mid-back melanoma, and a right deltoid melanoma. Immediate excision biopsies were performed in order to remove the melanomas. The patient also contracted an acute lymphadenopathy. A lymph nodes biopsy was performed using two techniques: gamma probe and patent V blue dye. From these dissected lymph nodes, scientists discovered a black and blue pigment focus posing as another melanoma (Fig. 2). An urgent histology review was performed and revealed that it was not a melanoma, but it was black and blue tattoo pigment residing within the node. It was determined to be tattoo pigment because of the lack of staining from Melan-A or S100, which indicates if pigments are melanocytic (Fig. …show more content…
The various case studies describe only two pigments that were found to pass through the lymphatic system: blue and black. There are two types of tattoo inks, azo dyes and metal salt ink. The most typical ink being used is the metal salt ink. Metal salt pigments contain metals like cobalt, cadmium, dichromate and mercury. Black pigment contains carbon black with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The black pigment is known for causing most allergic reactions and numerous skin problems [8]. White, black, and violet colors contain the least amount of inorganic components, which could explain why black and blue pigments are commonly found within the nodes [6]. Black and blue inks contain more organic compounds compared to other inks and have a liquid base, such as water alcohol, or glycerin, are factors that can possibly determine why these pigment colors travel through the lymphatic system and others do not
Decorative tattoos have become more popular throughout the decades. When someone receives a tattoo the ink is injected into either the dermis or epidermis with a needle. Through various case studies with over 30 years of receiving the tattoo, patients contracted lymphadenopathy, a disease affecting the lymph nodes [1]. Lymph nodes are found all throughout the body including: armpits, epicondyles, pelvis, and neck. Depending on the trauma the tattoo has gone through or the color ink the patient used in their tattoo, patients acquired symptoms resembling melanoma within their lymph nodes. Through trauma or the type ink color, the ink particles travel through the lymphatic system and settle in the lymph nodes. The white blood cells …show more content…
Doctors then revealed a thigh melanoma, a mid-back melanoma, and a right deltoid melanoma. Immediate excision biopsies were performed in order to remove the melanomas. The patient also contracted an acute lymphadenopathy. A lymph nodes biopsy was performed using two techniques: gamma probe and patent V blue dye. From these dissected lymph nodes, scientists discovered a black and blue pigment focus posing as another melanoma (Fig. 2). An urgent histology review was performed and revealed that it was not a melanoma, but it was black and blue tattoo pigment residing within the node. It was determined to be tattoo pigment because of the lack of staining from Melan-A or S100, which indicates if pigments are melanocytic (Fig. …show more content…
The various case studies describe only two pigments that were found to pass through the lymphatic system: blue and black. There are two types of tattoo inks, azo dyes and metal salt ink. The most typical ink being used is the metal salt ink. Metal salt pigments contain metals like cobalt, cadmium, dichromate and mercury. Black pigment contains carbon black with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The black pigment is known for causing most allergic reactions and numerous skin problems [8]. White, black, and violet colors contain the least amount of inorganic components, which could explain why black and blue pigments are commonly found within the nodes [6]. Black and blue inks contain more organic compounds compared to other inks and have a liquid base, such as water alcohol, or glycerin, are factors that can possibly determine why these pigment colors travel through the lymphatic system and others do not