Axillary Silicone Granulomas in Patients With Melanoma

Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2016 May;107(4):e23-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ad.2015.05.016. Epub 2015 Nov 25.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Subcutaneous lesions may be detected during follow-up of patients with melanoma. The main entities that should be contemplated in the differential diagnosis in such cases are in-transit and regional lymph node metastases. We describe 2 cases of women with breast implants who developed palpable subcutaneous lesions in the axillary region during follow-up of melanoma. In both cases, the ultrasound study showed diffuse hyperechoic signals forming the characteristic snowstorm sign in the subcutaneous tissue. Ultrasound proved to be a key diagnostic tool for ruling out melanoma-related disease, such as in-transit metastases and regional lymph node metastases.

Keywords: Breast implant; Ecografía, Siliconoma; Melanoma; Prótesis mamaria; Silicone granuloma; Ultrasound.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Axilla
  • Breast Implants / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Granuloma, Foreign-Body / diagnostic imaging
  • Granuloma, Foreign-Body / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / complications*
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Silicones / adverse effects*
  • Skin Neoplasms / complications*
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Silicones