Can getting a tatoo cause swollen axillary nodes?!
Question: My recent mammogram came back normal, however it picked up a huge axillary node (4.5 cm). I got the tatoo about a year ago. Sounds far-fetched but I am grasping at straws here. I have already seen a surgeon and have surgery scheduled in a week, but am driving myself crazy.............oh year, my tattoo is on the shoulder blade--same side of the swollen node
Answers: My recent mammogram came back normal, however it picked up a huge axillary node (4.5 cm). I got the tatoo about a year ago. Sounds far-fetched but I am grasping at straws here. I have already seen a surgeon and have surgery scheduled in a week, but am driving myself crazy.............oh year, my tattoo is on the shoulder blade--same side of the swollen node
Common things being common, it's probably not from the tattoo. Mono could be a possibility, but usually that is cervical lymphadenopathy--and you'd probably feel more sick. Malignancy is always in the differential (lymphoma, breast, etc.)
That being said, there was an interesting case report in the Lancet Oncology that reported on a patient having symmetric bilateral lymphadenopathy that was positive on PET scan (a test used to check for metabolically active areas). It was actually caused by a large tattoo on his back and not a testicular cancer (as was originally thought). The lymph node was removed and actually had tattoo ink in it! So, I would not completely dismiss the tattoo theory.
Here's the link:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob...
Good luck, as said before, fine-needle aspiration is usually the first step (can be done under local anesthesia in the office). If this is non-diagnostic, then exciional biopsy would be the next step.
It is possible that a larger needle from the outline could have pierced the node.
I doubt that any tattoo needle would have penetrated from the back of your shoulder balde to the axillary nodes, which are in the front of your body.
The tattoo would have no connection to swelling in your lymph nodes, especially after a year, unless they maybe used a dirty needle and you have developed a deep chronic infection, in which case you would already be having serious symptoms. This is so far fetched as to be impossible.
You do not state your age or general health. Given your recent normal mammogram I am guessing you have an infection like mono. Mono can be so slight in some people as to cause no obvious symptoms other than possibly a swollen lymph node and a high WBC.
Why are you having surgery or did you misspeak? To do an axial lymph node biopsy is a simple procedure done with a fine needle and over a few minutes. I would not call this procedure surgery so if you are having surgery the Dr must have told you what he was looking for?
Anyways, good luck with your procedure and try not to let the "what ifs" get to you because they really will not help.