MRI evaluation of post-mastectomy irradiated breast implants: prevalence and analysis of complications

• Published in: Clinical radiology Vol. 70; no. 9; pp. 948 - 953
• Main Authors: Rella, L, Telegrafo, M, Nardone, A, Milella, A, Ianora, A.A. Stabile, Lioce, M, Angelelli, G, Moschetta, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Breast Implants; Breast Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Breast Neoplasms - surgery; Combined Modality Therapy; Contrast Media; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Mastectomy; Meglumine - analogs & derivatives; Middle Aged; Organometallic Compounds; Postoperative Complications - diagnosis; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Radiology
• ISSN: 0009-9260; 1365-229X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2015.04.018

Aim To evaluate the effect of post-mastectomy radiation therapy (RT) on breast implants as detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) searching for short-term complications. Materials and methods One hundred and forty patients (total of 144 implants) were evaluated by MRI; 80 (group 1) had undergone RT, whereas the remaining 60 patients (group 2) underwent mastectomy with implant reconstruction without RT. Two radiologists evaluated MRI images searching for implant rupture signs, sub-capsular seromas, capsular contracture, soft-tissue oedema, peri-implant fluid collections. Implant ruptures were classified as severe complications; seromas and capsular contractures as moderate complications; oedema and fluid collections as mild complications. The prevalence of MRI findings in the two groups was calculated and compared by unpaired t -test. Cohen's kappa statistics was used to assess interobserver agreement. Results Sixty-nine out of 144 (48%) implants presented pathological findings at MRI with complication rates of 47.5 and 48.4 for groups 1 and 2, respectively. Two (5%) severe complications, 10 (26%) moderate complications, and 26 (69%) mild complications occurred in group 1 and surgical treatment was performed in 10 cases. Two (6%) severe complications, seven (23%) moderate complications, and 22 (71%) mild complications occurred in group 2 and surgical treatment was performed in eight cases. No significant difference between the two groups was found ( p> 0.1). Almost perfect agreement between the two radiologists was found for MRI image detection (k=0.86). Conclusion RT does not seem to cause a significant effect on breast implants in terms of complication rate in patients undergoing implant-based breast reconstruction. One-stage immediate implant-based breast reconstruction performed at the same time as mastectomy could be proposed.