Radiation-induced capsule tissue reactions around textured breast implants in a rat model.
Capsule fibrosis and other complications around various filled breast implants were evaluated in a rat radiation model after 12 months of implantation. Model implants, one per rat, were implanted subcutaneously. One month after subcutaneous implantation, high voltage radiation followed one half each group. A higher rate of capsule fibrosis occurred in radiated animals. Malignant tumors at the implantation site developed in 40% of radiated and 24% of non-radiated animals, with a much higher rate of mitosis in the radiated group (Mann-Whitney, P=0.008). The presence of an implant is a cofactor for tumor development in rats (chi2-test, chi2=6.927; P=0.008) as well as radiation, since none of the control animals developed tumors. Applied to humans, capsule contracture (fibrosis) is a common complication of radiation, while development of radiation-induced sarcoma is a rare complication after postoperative radiotherapy by all account. Still further long-term follow-up human studies are necessary.
Eltze
E
E
Institute of Pathology, University of Muenster, Domagkstr. 17, 48149 Muenster FRG, Germany. eltze@uni-muenster.de
Schäfer
U
U
Bettendorf
O
O
Rody
A
A
Herchenröder
F
F
Chiwritsch
T
T
Jackisch
C
C
Pfleiderer
B
B
D000818:Animals; D018427:Breast Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003286:Contracture / Q000473:pathology*; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D005355:Fibrosis; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000473:pathology*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley