Why Do I Have A Large Lump Where I Used A Nicotine Patch? Sensitive, Does Not Become Small

Posted on Fri, 4 May 2012

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 4 May 2012 Answered on

Thu, 4 Oct 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : Why do I have a large lump where I used a nicotine patch nearly 4 years ago? It has always been sensitive and has never got any smaller.

Answered by Dr. Rohit Batra (2 hours later)

Dear XXXXXXX,
Thanks for your query.
A lump at the site of nicotine punch could have arisen as a reaction to the nicotine patch that you have used. A biopsy from the site of the lump should be done to ascertain the pathology ( basic disease process) behind the lump. Such a condition is common in patients who use insulin on their own.
Years after the injections, such lumps with pigmentation on top can occur.

I would request you to get a biopsy from the site done to settle things once and for all.

Regards

Dr.Rohit Batra

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Aparna Kohli