Silicone thorax due to a ruptured breast implant

Chest. 2005 May;127(5):1854-7. doi: 10.1378/chest.127.5.1854.

Abstract

A woman with a history of bilateral mastectomy and silicone implants for fibrocystic disease and a history of atrial septal defect repair presented with pleural nodules on a chest radiograph. A thorascopic biopsy performed for possible mesothelioma demonstrated chronic inflammation and focal pleural fibrosis due to a foreign-body reaction secondary to silicone. This was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive radiograph elemental analysis. As the population ages, the increasing frequency of ruptured silicone implants and the need for heart surgery may result in a corresponding increase in the risk for fibrothorax secondary to inadvertent silicone introduction during surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Breast Implants / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Fibrocystic Breast Disease / epidemiology
  • Fibrocystic Breast Disease / surgery
  • Foreign-Body Reaction / etiology*
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / epidemiology
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / surgery
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pleural Diseases / etiology*
  • Silicone Elastomers / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Silicone Elastomers