to Sheraz, many thanks for answering, I think your info essentially discounts tattoo or piercing as underlying cause of abnormal lump.

As you note, obviously biopsy’s indicated asap- but since the attending doctor didn’t bother, my confidence was not high. that’s one reason I went looking for supplemental expert input on your forum, about all I could do to help was try to narrow the field of mystery!

Last night’s ER doctors were sharper cookies, no diagnosis yet, tests neg for bacteria again, but this time a biopsy’s ordered.

We do feel better having your kind assistance on possible after-effects. Doctors she’s seen seem a bit dismissive re tattoos. Well geez, don’t relate to tattoos much myself, but personal points of view won’t make the skin a less essential body organ. Knee bone’s always connected to the head bone whether that suits us or not–

thank you for your input, really appreciate it, checking out of your world of tattoos and back to babysitting–