title: Detection of toluenediamines in the urine of a patient with polyurethane-covered breast implants.
abstract: Breast prostheses are implanted for augmentation or during reconstructive surgery. One of the more commonly used prostheses is the polyurethane-sponge-covered silicone gel implant. Some clinicians are concerned about the safety of this product because the polyurethane foam disintegrates in vivo, and its subsequent fate is not known. Polyurethane is a polymer formed by reacting diisocyanates and polyols. This study indicates that the polymer sponge breaks down into its reactive monomers, 2,4- and 2,6-toluenediisocyanate, which are converted into their corresponding diamines. We present evidence of the excretion of the diamine metabolites in the urine of a patient implanted with polyurethane-covered prostheses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Foothills Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Birdsell
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Gradeen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000737:chemistry / Q000601:surgery*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D011140:Polyurethanes; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D014051:Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D011140:Polyurethanes; D014051:Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate