Korean J Dermatol.  2011 Jun;49(6):561-563.

Facial Foreign Body Granuloma by Gold Thread Needle-embedding Therapy

• Kim JY
• Lee WJ
• Kim DW
• Lee SJ

Abstract

We read with interest a paper published in a recent issue of the Korean Journal of Dermatology, in which Baek et al. presented two cases of facial foreign body granulomas induced by needle-embedding therapy. The cases were foreign body granulomas induced by acupoint embedding thread by doctors of Oriental medicine. Recently we managed a patient who presented with two linear, fluctuating, erythematous nodules with a purulent discharge involving the left cheek 2 months after gold thread needle-embedding therapy, a so called gold-lifting procedure, in which gold thread is embedded via acupuncture for the purpose of face-lifting. A biopsy obtained from the lesion showed acute and chronic inflammatory cells with foreign body-type giant cells throughout the dermis and subcutis. Under the diagnosis of a foreign body reaction with clinicopathologic examination, we treated her several times with incision and drainage and oral corticosteroids. After 1 year of treatment, the lesions did not recur during 3 months of follow-up.

Keyword

Foreign body granuloma; Gold thread; Needle-embedding therapy

MeSH Terms

Acupuncture
Acupuncture Points
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Biopsy
Cheek
Dermatology
Dermis
Drainage
Follow-Up Studies
Foreign Bodies
Foreign-Body Reaction
Giant Cells, Foreign-Body
Granuloma, Foreign-Body
Humans
Medicine, East Asian Traditional
Adrenal Cortex Hormones