Winkelmann R K, Harris R B
J Cutan Pathol. 1979 Feb;6(1):59-65. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0560.1979.tb00306.x.
Two patients with an inflammatory reaction in a red tattoo had histopathologic changes of lichen planus. The lesions demonstrated a lymphocytic bandlike infiltrate, liquefaction degeneration, acanthosis, hypergranulosis, and orthokeratosis and many hyaline bodies. Metal particles were observed in the region of the dermal-epidermal reaction. This probably is another example of the lichenoid reaction produced by delayed cellular hypersensitivity.