Tattoos and self-reported adverse events in sarcoidosis patients

Tattoos and Risk of Hematologic Cancer: A Population-Based Case-Control Study in Utah

BACKGROUND

Approximately one-third of US adults have a tattoo, and the prevalence is increasing. Tattooing can result in long-term exposure to carcinogens and inflammatory and immune responses.

METHODS

We examined tattooing and risk of hematologic cancers in a population-based case-control study with 820 cases diagnosed 2019-2021 and 8200 frequency-matched controls, ages 18-79 years. We calculated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models.

RESULTS

The prevalence of tattooing was 22% among Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) cases, 11% among non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cases, 16% among myeloid neoplasm cases, and 15% among controls. Though there were no clear patterns of associations between ever receiving a tattoo and risk of HL, NHL, or myeloid neoplasms overall, in analyses restricted to ages 20-60 years, ever receiving a tattoo (OR 2.06 [95% CI 1.01, 4.20]) and receiving a tattoo 10+ years prior (OR 2.64 [95% CI 1.23, 5.68]) were associated with an aggregated group of rarer mature B-cell NHLs. We also observed elevated risks for a 10+ year latency for myelodysplastic syndromes and chronic myeloid leukemia (OR 1.48 [95% CI 0.40, 5.41], and OR 1.24 [95% CI 0.45, 3.43], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Though estimates were imprecise, we found some suggestive evidence that tattooing may be associated with an increased risk of certain hematologic cancer subtypes. With an estimated 46% prevalence of tattooing in US individuals ages 30-49, additional studies are needed to understand the degree to which these exposures may be associated with hematologic cancer risk.

Eyebrow tattoo-associated sarcoidosis: A case report

Cutaneous sarcoidosis can manifest after doing a permanent makeup (PMU), such as tattooed eyebrows. A 41-year-old Chinese woman, with a tattoo in the eyebrows, developed yellow–brown plaques in her eyebrows for several months. A dermatopathological examination revealed non-caseating granulomas consistent with cutaneous sarcoidosis. For months, topical corticosteroids were applied, which showed little effect. Furthermore, a physical evaluation of the patient revealed no apparent involvement of other body organs except bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy with few diffuse reticulonodular opacities. On the basis of fully informed consent, the patient agreed to a 6-month initial follow-up to avoid unnecessary PMU.