Author/Editor     Legat, FJ; Goessler, W; Schlagenhaufen, C; Soyer, HP
Title     Localized cutaneous argyria in the ear after short-contact acupuncture
Type     članek
Source     Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannon Adriat
Vol. and No.     Letnik 8, št. 4
Publication year     1999
Volume     str. 145-8
Language     eng
Abstract     We report a unique case of localized cutaneous argyria in the ear of a 39-year-old woman, which developed after short-contact acupuncture. The woman presented with a blue-black macule in the skin of her left ear. The macule was 2mm in diameter and had a smooth unaltered surface. A dermatologist suggested the diagnosis of a blue nevus and excised the lesion by punch biopsy specimen revealed, in the connective tissue, a brown-black granules were found. The analysis of the chemical nature of the granules in an unstained paraffin section was performed by a laser microprobe mass analyzer and determined the presence of silver in the tissue section. 20 years ago, our patient had undergone five session of short contact acupuncture in her ears because of lumbalgia. 10 years later, she noticed the blue-black macule in her left ear. We believe that during one of the short session of ear acupuncture, a small particle of a silver needle might accidentally have been deposited. This small silver particle then, over the years, could have led to the development of localizated cutaneous argyria presenting as a blue-black macule in the skin of the left ear of the patient.
Descriptors     ACUPUNCTURE
ARGYRIA
EAR, EXTERNAL
BIOPSY
ADULT