Trendy Tattoos-Maybe a Serious Health Risk?

BACKGROUND

The literature reports many cases of cutaneous malignancy in the setting of skin tattoos. In this study, we review the reported incidence of and risk factors for tattoo-associated skin cancer.

METHODS

A PubMed literature review was performed for all cases of tattoo-associated skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, keratoacanthoma, and other rare skin malignancies (source: PubMed/until June 2017).

RESULTS

The authors identified 51 publications and 63 total cases of tattoo-associated skin cancer. We also report on a single new case of tattoo-associated skin cancer observed at one of our co-authors' institutions. Among these 64 total cases, 58% were associated with black and blue inks and 34% were associated with red ink.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, while the strength of association remains unclear, the literature reports many cases of tattoo-associated skin cancer. Among these cases, black, blue, and red inks were particularly worrisome for their carcinogenic potential.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

[Development of a PCR for the detection and quantification of parasitism by Demodex folliculorum infestation in biopsies of skin neoplasms periocular area]

OBJECTIVE

To standardize the relative quantification by mass of tissue parasitism by Demodex folliculorum infestation from neoplastic skin biopsies periocular using molecular amplification to study the possible relationship of the appearance of eyelid basal cell carcinoma with the presence and density of the mite in later works.

METHODS

A quantitative PCR was developed real-time probes TaqMan. PCR was tested in a pilot 46 actual biopsy samples nodular basal cell carcinoma series.

RESULTS

The sensitivity was placed with a detection limit of between 1 and 10 copies / μl. 50% (23/46) of the biopsies were positive for D. folliculorum. The specificity was 100% confirmed by sequencing.

CONCLUSIONS

The technique shows good results for sensitivity and specificity that can make it useful as a tool for studies of cause and effect D. folliculorum and basal cell carcinoma.

High incidence of demodicidosis in eyelid basal cell carcinomas

BACKGROUND

Although UV radiation is the major cause of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), local factors, such as chronic trauma, irritation, or inflammation, may also have some role in its etiopathogenesis. The pilosebaceous follicle mites, Demodex folliculorum and D. brevis, inhabit most commonly and densely certain facial skin areas, including the nose and periorbital regions, where BCC also develops most frequently.

AIM

To investigate, in a retrospective histopathologic study, whether a possible etiopathogenetic relationship exists between demodicidosis and eyelid BCCs.

METHODS

We examined 32 eyelid BCC specimens that contained at least five eyelashes or five hair follicles with respect to the presence and density of Demodex mites. As controls, we evaluated 34 matched specimens consisting of benign eyelid skin lesions.

RESULTS

Twenty-one of 32 BCC cases (65.6%) and eight of 34 control cases (23.33%) had demodicidosis. Mean mite counts were 1.31 +/- 1.57 and 0.47 +/- 0.99 in BCC cases and controls, respectively. The differences were significant for both prevalence (P < 0.001) and density (P = 0.0052). Although there was a significant positive correlation between increasing mite number and patient age in the control group (r = 0.47, P < 0.05), no significant correlation was found between these two factors in BCC cases (r = -0.102, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Demodicidosis may be one of the triggering factors of carcinogenesis in eyelid BCCs in otherwise predisposed people due to its traumatic/irritating effect or chronic inflammation.