Pneumonitis caused by silicone gel following breast implant rupture.
BACKGROUND
There have been reports of pneumonitis associated with subcutaneous injection of liquid silicone, and of other pulmonary conditions due to cohesive silicone gel prostheses, but we know of no previous cases of pneumonitis associated with silicone gel.


METHODS
We report the case of a patient with a cohesive silicone gel mammary prosthesis in whom silicone-induced pneumonitis was diagnosed following radiological observation of pulmonary infiltrates and tests including transbronchial biopsy, which revealed the presence of silicone in alveolar histiocytes and small blood vessels.


CONCLUSIONS
Following removal of the ruptured prosthesis and a course of systemic corticoids, the patient progressed favourably.
Paredes Vila
S
S
Servicio de Neumologia, Complexo Hospitalario de Santiago, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Gonzalez Barcala
F J
FJ
Suarez Antelo
J
J
Moldes Rodriguez
M
M
Abdulkader Nallib
I
I
Valdes Cuadrado
L
L
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018427:Breast Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011859:Radiography; D012421:Rupture / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D020034:Silicone Gels / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000633:toxicity
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D020034:Silicone Gels; D011241:Prednisone