Appropriateness of MRI scanning in the detection of ruptured implants used for breast reconstruction

This case report highlights the problems associated with ruptured silicone breast implants used for breast reconstructive purposes. The patient originally presented with vague symptoms and signs to her GP and was extensively investigated over a period of years for left-sided chest/abdominal pain. Tw...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBritish journal of plastic surgery Vol. 56; no. 2; pp. 186 - 189
Main Authors Topping, Adam, George, Christopher, Wilson, Geoffrey
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2003
Elsevier
Subjects
accuracy
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Breast Implants
Breast Neoplasms - surgery
breast reconstruction
Female
Humans
implant rupture
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Mammaplasty - instrumentation
Mammaplasty - methods
Medical sciences
Pain - etiology
Prosthesis Failure
scanning modalities
Silicone Elastomers
silicone implants
Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
scanning modalities
accuracy
silicone implants
implant rupture
breast reconstruction
Human
Implant
Prosthesis
Use
Rupture
Anatomical reconstruction
Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging
Plasty
Treatment
Surgery
Breast
Medical imagery
Diagnosis
Mammary gland
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Summary:This case report highlights the problems associated with ruptured silicone breast implants used for breast reconstructive purposes. The patient originally presented with vague symptoms and signs to her GP and was extensively investigated over a period of years for left-sided chest/abdominal pain. Two separate scanning modalities were used prior to her being seen by either of the main authors and although none were employed specifically to assess for implant rupture, neither detected any free silicone around the hemithorax. The authors suggest that patients who have undergone breast reconstruction with a silicone implant may present in a manner not suggestive of implant damage. In such cases, where the silicone can extend over larger anatomical distances and where side-effects can be damaging the investigation of choice should be MRI scanning which has a greater accuracy for detecting free silicone and defining the extent of spread.
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ISSN:0007-1226
1465-3087
DOI:10.1016/S0007-1226(03)00031-6