A Case of Graphite Foreign Body Misdiagnosed as Blue Nevus.
- Author:
Yeon Jin KIM
1
;
Ji Young AHN
;
Beom Joon KIM
;
Myeung Nam KIM
;
Kye Yong SONG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Lead of a pencil; Graphite foreign body; Granuloma
- MeSH: Abscess; Allied Health Personnel; Female; Foreign Bodies*; Foreign-Body Reaction; Granuloma; Graphite*; Humans; Nevus, Blue*; Pigmentation; Skin; Wounds and Injuries; Young Adult
- From:Annals of Dermatology 2007;19(4):166-169
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: The lead of a pencil is composed of graphite and clay. Although considered as biologically inert for a long time, the lead of a pencil can result in undesirable local pain, pigmentation, abscess formation and graphite foreign body reaction. Therefore, all penetrating injuries caused by a pencil should be carefully assessed and treated in order to remove all pieces of lead from the wound by specialized paramedics or medical doctors. We should be aware that graphite granules embedded in the skin may give rise to clinically alarming delayed reactions. Here we present a 19-year-old woman with a foreign body, the lead of a pencil, misdiagnosed as a blue nevus.
