A tattoo and localized lymphadenopathy: a case report

Abstract

We report the case of a left inguinal lymph node enlargement in a young man. A tattoo was present in close proximity to the lymph node and had preceded its enlargement by several years. The lymph node was removed surgically, and pathologic examination showed it to contain dark pigment material characteristic of a tattoo. The clinical significance of this finding is discussed, and the relationship of tattoo lymphadenopathy to inflammatory skin reactions and to dermatopathic lymphadenopathy is considered.