Open AccessEnlarging Pigmented Eyelid Mass Associated with Remote Pencil Trauma
Author(s) -
Paul O. Phelps,
John A. Carlson,
Dale R. Meyer
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
ocular oncology and pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 10
eISSN - 2296-4681
pISSN - 2296-4657
DOI - 10.1159/000470913
Subject(s) - medicine , eyelid , pencil (optics) , dermatology , ophthalmology , optometry , optics , physics
The authors present a case of a gradually enlarging pigmented mass of the upper eyelid and anterior orbit that was discovered to be the graphite tip of a pencil surrounded by macrophages bearing graphite and fibrous tissue. A 25-year-old woman with no medical history presented with a gradually enlarging pigmented lesion of her left upper eyelid. She denied any history of previous skin cancer, trauma, or previous surgery. A biopsy was performed. This revealed an encapsulated grayish, pigmented mass within the medial portion of the left upper eyelid and anterior orbit. Within the pigmented cocoon, the graphite core of a pencil ("pencil lead") was identified. Histopathology demonstrated granulomatous inflammation with fibrosis and macrophages.