A method of distinguishing between amalgam and graphite in tissue.
The clinical and histologic appearance of amalgam and graphite tattoos are similar; both appear as dark particles, although amalgam, after degradation, displays a characteristic binding to blood vessels, nerves, basement membrane, and fibers. Graphite particles also consistently exhibit a light yellow peripheral birefringence under strong polarized light. Amalgam particles may exhibit a similar birefringence, but often it is weak or absent. When histologic sections containing particles exhibiting birefringence are treated with 10% ammonium sulfide solution, graphite is unaltered, whereas the birefringence of amalgam particles, if present, is changed to orange, or the particles undergo dissolution.
D000818:Animals; D002244:Carbon; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006108:Graphite; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010159:Palate / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
D002244:Carbon; D006108:Graphite; D003723:Dental Amalgam