The American Journal of dermatopathology
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As body piercing is increasingly en vogue, complications are on the rise as well. Biopsies of such lesions can impose special problems to the reviewing dermatopathologist. We present two patients who developed papulonodular lesions at the sites of ear piercings. ⋯ These findings suggest that the lesions represent allergic contact granulomas. When confronted with this special type of tissue reaction in skin biopsies of piercing sites, the reviewing dermatopathologist should consider the possibility of an allergic reaction. Careful history and thorough diagnostic procedures, including biopsy of the patch test site can establish the diagnosis of contact allergic granuloma.