On the subject of self-mutilation by paraffin injection

Abstract

At present, self-mutilation for the purpose of evading military service is relatively rare, although, unfortunately, far from being completely eradicated. It is the relative rarity of cases of self-mutilation that can sometimes lead to difficulties for the doctor in diagnosing self-mutilation. This should be said especially about artificial tumors caused by injection of paraffin into tissues. At the injection sites there is a growth of connective tissue surrounding and sprouting drops of paraffin, resulting in the formation of dense tumors, the so-called "paraffinomas", extremely simulating, at first glance, real neoplasms. This very type of self-mutilation was observed in the Kazan Military Hospital during the last 1½ years in 4 cases.

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