A Case of Silica Granuloma / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Silica contaminates frequently accidental wounds, but most silica-contaminated wounds heal uneventfully with normal scarring. In exceptional cases, a delayed hypersensitivity granulomatous reaction occurs at the site of the old scar. We report a case of silica granuloma in a 30-year-old female. She had presented four discrete asymptomatic, mildly erythematous to skin colored papules or deep-seated nodules on upper extremity and trunk for 3 months. Histopathology of right upper arm lesion showed a well-demarcated conglomerate nodule in subcutaneous tissue, composed of numerous non-caseating granulomas without central necrotic or hyalinized foci. Small polarizable birefractile fibrous particles are found within the nodule. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) revealed thin needle shaped fibers with fracture ends and energy dispersive X-ray analysis(EDXA) of the fiber showed major peak for a silica component.