title: Electron probe microanalysis of silicon and the role of the macrophage in proximal (capsule) and distant sites in augmentation mammaplasty patients.
abstract: Electron probe x-ray microanalysis was used to locate silicon (Si) within macrophages from 12 women who had previously undergone polymer prosthesis augmentation or reconstruction. Silicon was identified within macrophages and extracellularly in all fibrous breast capsules. In four women with arthritic joint pain and one woman with sclerodermatous skin lesions, silicon also was identified within macrophages residing in joint synovium and skin, respectively. It is suggested that the silicon-laden macrophages observed in the remote lesions may have accumulated silicon from other macrophages that had previously resided in the connective-tissue capsule around the silicone breast implants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Raso
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Harley
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Silver
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018427:Breast Implants; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000737:chemistry*; D016462:Mammaplasty; D008875:Middle Aged; D012828:Silicones / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones