Felix J Paprottka1, Nicco Krezdorn2, Mustafa Narwan3, Marvee Turk2, Heiko Sorg4, Ernst Magnus Noah3, Detlev Hebebrand5. 1. Department of Plastic, Aesthetic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, AGAPLESION Diakonieklinikum Rotenburg, Elise-Averdieck-Straße 17, 27356, Rotenburg (Wümme), Germany. felix.paprottka@me.com. 2. Harvard Medical School, Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. 3. Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Rotes Kreuz Krankenhaus Kassel, Hansteinstr. 29, 34121, Kassel, Germany. 4. Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Alfried Krupp Krankenhaus, Hellweg 100, 45276, Essen, Germany. 5. Department of Plastic, Aesthetic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, AGAPLESION Diakonieklinikum Rotenburg, Elise-Averdieck-Straße 17, 27356, Rotenburg (Wümme), Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The literature reports many cases of cutaneous malignancy in the setting of skin tattoos. In this study, we review the reported incidence of and risk factors for tattoo-associated skin cancer. METHODS: A PubMed literature review was performed for all cases of tattoo-associated skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, keratoacanthoma, and other rare skin malignancies (source: PubMed/until June 2017). RESULTS: The authors identified 51 publications and 63 total cases of tattoo-associated skin cancer. We also report on a single new case of tattoo-associated skin cancer observed at one of our co-authors' institutions. Among these 64 total cases, 58% were associated with black and blue inks and 34% were associated with red ink. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, while the strength of association remains unclear, the literature reports many cases of tattoo-associated skin cancer. Among these cases, black, blue, and red inks were particularly worrisome for their carcinogenic potential. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
BACKGROUND: The literature reports many cases of cutaneous malignancy in the setting of skin tattoos. In this study, we review the reported incidence of and risk factors for tattoo-associated skin cancer. METHODS: A PubMed literature review was performed for all cases of tattoo-associated skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, keratoacanthoma, and other rare skin malignancies (source: PubMed/until June 2017). RESULTS: The authors identified 51 publications and 63 total cases of tattoo-associated skin cancer. We also report on a single new case of tattoo-associated skin cancer observed at one of our co-authors' institutions. Among these 64 total cases, 58% were associated with black and blue inks and 34% were associated with red ink. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, while the strength of association remains unclear, the literature reports many cases of tattoo-associated skin cancer. Among these cases, black, blue, and red inks were particularly worrisome for their carcinogenic potential. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Authors: Marike Leijs; Hannah Schaefer; Albert Rübben; Claudio Cacchi; Thomas Rustemeyer; Sebastiaan van der Bent Journal: Curr Oncol Date: 2021-11-15 Impact factor: 3.677