title: Squamous cell carcinoma in association with a red tattoo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although tattoos have become exceedingly popular in recent years, only few cases of severe reactions leading to malignant transformation have been reported in the literature. This stands in contrast to the virtually innumerable number of tattoos worldwide. The composition of tattoo dyes is highly variable, and even the same colors may contain different compounds. The objective of our study was to investigate in what way tattoo dyes may potentially trigger skin cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the rare case of a 24-year-old woman who - seven months after getting a tattoo on the back of her foot - developed a squamous cell carcinoma in close proximity to the red dye used. Complications started in the form of nonspecific swelling. The lesion was histologically examined. The composition of the incorporated dye was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy dispersive element analysis. Thermogravimetry and powder diffraction were used for further characterization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While the tattoo dye primarily consisted of barium sulfate, traces of Al, S, Ti, P, Mg, and Cl were also detected. The analysis showed pigment granules of varying sizes. In rare cases, tattoo inks may have carcinogenic effects, which appear to be multifactorial.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Georgius Agricola Foundation Ruhr, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.affiliation: Inorganic Chemistry and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CeNIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Oleg
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Prymak
authors.affiliation: Inorganic Chemistry and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CeNIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Epple
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plastic Surgery, Bergmannstrost Halle/Saale, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ernert
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Georgius Agricola Foundation Ruhr, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tannapfel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology*; D003116:Color; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents
keywords: Tattoo; element analysis; keratoacanthoma; scanning electron microscopy; squamous cell carcinoma