Abstract
We report a case of a 54-year-old woman who developed allergic piercing granuloma. A persistent nodule appeared at the site of piercing on her right earlobe 5 years after metal-piercing in both earlobes. Although resected, the nodule soon reappeared. Because histological examination of the nodule demonstrated the presence of non-caseating epithelioid cell granuloma and patch testing revealed positive allergic responses to gold and platinum, we made the diagnosis of piercing granuloma due to a delayed-type allergy to piercing metals. In foreign countries, increasing cases of allergic piercing granuloma consisting of sarcoidal epithelioid cell granulomas have recently been reported. We should pay attention to the possibility that similar cases can also increase in Japan.
