title: Localized argyria 20-years after embedding of acupuncture needles.
abstract: We report a 66-year-old woman with localized argyria caused by embedding of acupuncture needles. Ten years after she had received acupuncture, she noticed two asymptomatic bluish macules on her right arm. A biopsied specimen from the macule revealed many brownish-black granules mainly located around the sweat glands and the blood vessels in the dermis. The X-ray examination of the extremities revealed numerous needle-like fragments around her extremities. "Embedding of needles" induces some serious adverse events. We should know the adverse events for the safety and health of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Japan. emikot@za2.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Emiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Takeishi
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Youichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hamasaki
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Katayama
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D000368:Aged; D001129:Argyria / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007564:Japan; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D034941:Upper Extremity