Sarcoidosis is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology characterized by the presence of non-caseating epithelioid cell granulomas in multiple organs. Cutaneous sarcoidosis occurs in approximately ...25% of the cases. Sarcoid reactions on old scars, traumatized skin sites and around embedded foreign material have long been observed. For the past 70 years, sarcoidal granulomas on tattoos and permanent make-up have also been documented. Granulomatous and sarcoidal tattoo reactions may be the first and sometimes only cutaneous manifestation of systemic sarcoidosis. This review summarizes the currently available data on this topic and discusses the issues related to the diagnosis, management and physiopathogeny of sarcoidal reactions on tattoos.
Background
Although the development of lesions in skin areas that have undergone injury has long been known, understanding of its pathogenesis is limited. Depending on their peculiarities, those ...events have been described as isomorphic, reverse isomorphic, pseudoisomorphic, isotopic, and isopathic phenomena. Ruocco's immunocompromised cutaneous district (ICD) concept was proposed to include all those phenomena.
Aims
We performed a systematic review and critically evaluated the current understanding about ICD and its relationship with the isotopic and isopathic phenomena.
Methods
To illustrate the complexity of the theme, we present a case of subclinical leprosy, whose manifestation was brisk in an old tattoo. The possible interaction between the approached phenomena, acting in the genesis of the disease, made this a pertinent study. The research was conducted under the PRISMA‐P guidelines, in seven biomedical databases between 1996 and 2018. The eligibility criteria were systematic reviews, meta‐analyses, clinical studies, and case series, written in English, French, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish.
Results
Using standardized keywords, 1220 articles were identified. After applying the eligibility criteria, 53 studies were selected.
Conclusion
This review ratifies that all these phenomena are aspects of one single condition. They can be integrated into the ICD concept with the pathogenesis including: (a) neural damage (peripheral or central) and (b) chronic lymphedema. Both may change the local neuroimmune interaction. The identification of these phenomena and the understanding of their pathogenesis are of paramount importance, to define the diagnosis and choose the therapeutic strategy.
Temporary tattoos and dyes constitute a great analytical challenge in relation to the regulatory control of their ingredients. Most of these commercial products are not labeled according to their ...content and their chemical nature is highly diverse. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze these complex samples to evaluate the potential presence of metallic impurities, to ensure the safety of cosmetic products contributing to health protection. This study proposes a multi-analytical methodology, which includes handheld X-ray fluorescence (h-XRF) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), complemented by variable pressure scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X‐ray spectrometry (VP-SEM–EDS) to fully characterize 34 commercial samples of jagua and henna tattoos and dyes. The approach allowed the identification of the main constituents providing complementary compositional data and differences between sample types were established. In addition, information on the degree of natural pigments homogeneity was also obtained. The results’ discussion considering the current European cosmetics regulation may be useful to support the drafting of safety requirements and specific regulation.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) can be performed when node-positive disease is converted to node-negative status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). Tattooing nodes might improve accuracy but ...supportive data are limited. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of charcoal tattooing metastatic axillary lymph node (ALN) at presentation followed by SLNB after NCT in breast cancers.
Twenty patientswith cytology-proven node metastases prospectively underwent charcoal tattooing at diagnosis. SLNB using dual tracers and axillary surgery after NCT were then performed. The detection rate of tattooed node and diagnostic performance of SLNB were analyzed.
All patients underwent charcoal tattooingwithout significant morbidity. Sentinel and tattooed nodes could be detected during surgery after NCT. Nodal pathologic complete response was achieved in 10 patients. Overall sensitivity, false-negative rate (FNR), negative predictive value, and accuracy of hot/blue SLNB were 80.0%, 20.0%, 83.3%, and 90.0%, respectively. Retrieving more nodes and favorable nodal response were associated with improved performance. The best accuracy was observed when excised tattooed node was calculated together (FNR, 0.0%). Cold/non-blue tattooed nodes of five patients were removed during non-sentinel axillary surgery but clinicopathological parameters did not differ compared to patients with hot/blue tattooed node detected during SLNB, suggesting the importance of the tattooing procedure itself to improve performance.
Charcoal tattooing of cytology-confirmed metastatic ALN at presentation is technically feasible and does not limit SLNB after NCT. The tattooing procedure without additional preoperative localization is advantageous for improving the diagnostic performance of SLNB in this setting.
Whether having a tattoo increases the risk of transfusion-transmitted diseases (TTDs) is controversial. Although a few studies have suggested a strong association between having tattoos and TTDs, ...other studies have not shown the significance of the association. In addition, previous studies mainly focused only on hepatitis C viral infections. The objective of our study was to identify the prevalence and risk of TTDs in people with tattoos as compared with the non-tattooed population. A systematic review of the studies published before January 22, 2021, was performed using the Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Observational studies on hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis infections in people with and without tattoos were included. Studies that reported disease status without serological confirmation were excluded. A total of 121 studies were quantitatively analyzed. HCV (odds ratio OR, 2.37; 95% confidence interval CI, 2.04-2.76), HBV (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.31-1.83), and HIV infections (OR, 3.55; 95% CI, 2.34-5.39) were more prevalent in the tattooed population. In subgroup analyses, the prevalence of HCV infection was significantly elevated in the general population, hospital patient, blood donor, intravenous (IV) drug user, and prisoner groups. IV drug users and prisoners showed high prevalence rates of HBV infection. The prevalence of HIV infection was significantly increased in the general population and prisoner groups. Having a tattoo is associated with an increased prevalence of TTDs. Our approach clarifies in-depth and supports a guideline for TTD screening in the tattooed population.
Mycobacterium fortuitum
is a rapidly growing mycobacterium known to spread through many sources, including tap water. This organism can have variable presentation between patients which can lead to a ...delay in diagnosis. Here, we report a series of eight cases of tattoo-associated
M. fortuitum
infections that presented between December 2010 and January 2011, which were later linked to a single tattoo provider using gray tattoo ink made by diluting black ink with nonsterile tap water. In this case series, we emphasize the lack of pathognomonic features of these infections, the variability in culture and biopsy results, the importance of obtaining a culture in addition to a biopsy, and the importance of identifying the source of infection when determining management.
BackgroundTattooing is increasingly common among adolescents and young adults. This study explores the clinical efficacy of picosecond laser for the correction of tattoos. Literature suggests that ...25-47% of the population have had a tattoo at some point in their life (1). The incidence is slightly higher in adults 18-35 years (22-47%) compared to college students (18-25 years of age(1, 2). Recent surveys report 25% of tattooed adults expressing regret, while 4% of tattooed students had already undergone some form of tattoo-removal procedure (3). A common request for tattoo removal includes poorly executed tattoos, avoidance of stigmatization, trauma, socially inappropriate, and employment. Several procedures have been proposed to remove tattoos including cryosurgery, thermal cautery, or surgical resection (4). A major disadvantage of these methods is that they are all highly operator dependent, and carry a very high risk of residual scarring, residual pigment being left behind "ghosting" (3). In addition, some opt to cover the unwanted tattoo with another design, which results in layered tattoos that are substantially harder to manage. Laser surgery, in skilled hands, is an effective method for tattoo removal and traditionally, this is performed with Quality-Switched Laser, where energy liberatred in the nanosecond range results in a selective photothermal effect (5). Picosecond laser is a more recent innovation that results in energy released in a picosecond timescale (a time interval 1000 times shorter).One potential disavantage of laser therapy for the effacement of cutaneous tattoos is the length of treatment and associated cost, which might dissuade the patient from following through to completion of treatment, limiting potential benefits whilst still being exposed to risk of harm. (5, 6). Recent studies suggest that picosecond laser result in substantially reduced treatment times, whilst achieving an identical or more effective end result (7-9). However, these studies are limited by very small sample size and follow-up.