|Poll|June 22, 2011

The Girl With the Tiger Tattoo

Author(s)Ted Rosen, MD

A healthy 20-year-old woman presents for evaluation 6 months after getting a tattoo on her shoulder. She has "read on the internet" that tattoos can cause cancer, and she wonders whether you would advise her to remove this body art. Family history is positive for both colonic adenocarcinoma (paternal grandfather) and multiple myeloma (maternal grandmother). A recent set of basic hematology and biochemistry laboratory tests were all normal. She takes no medications, does not smoke, and drinks socially in moderation 4 or 5 nights a week.

What advice might you give her? Pick the best choice.

A. Tattoo pigments are typically carcinogenic, and considering her family history of neoplasia, tattoo removal is reasonable.
B. Tattoo pigments are typically carcinogenic, but tattoo removal can and should wait until she is at least 40 years of age.
C. She will more than likely develop a melanoma within this tattoo, so removal should be an urgent priority.
D. The internet is not always the best place to secure accurate information. The tattoo is harmless and can remain in place.

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