GRANULOMATOUS CONTACT-DERMATITIS DUE TO GOLD EARRINGS

A young female developed persistent nodules at sites of ear piercing w ith gold earrings and patch testing demonstrated a positive allergic r esponse to gold sodium thiosulphate. Histological examination of the n odules demonstrated a prominent sarcoidal-type granulomatous tissue re action. This is in contrast to previous reports of lymphocytoma cutis type histology and was associated with the occurrence of epithelioid g ranulomata at the site of a strongly positive and long-lasting patch-t est reaction.