Silicone thorax due to a ruptured breast implant.
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.
Levine
Robert L
RL
Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas School of Medicine, Houston, USA. Robert.Levine@uth.tmc.edu
Allen
Timothy C
TC
Cartwright
Joiner
J
Cagle
Philip T
PT
D018427:Breast Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology*; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012826:Silicone Elastomers / Q000009:adverse effects*
D012826:Silicone Elastomers