Ann Dermatol.
2007 Dec;19(4):166-169. 10.5021/ad.2007.19.4.166.
A Case of Graphite Foreign Body Misdiagnosed as Blue Nevus
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Korea. mnkim@cau.ac.kr
- 2Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Korea.
- KMID: 2156343
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2007.19.4.166
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.
