Development of eczematous symptoms by the implanted breast prosthesis.
A patient with an unidentified implanted breast prosthesis experienced eczematous symptoms 3 years after implantation, although prosthesis rapture and complications such as capsular contraction, hematoma, and seroma were not clinically observed. Surgical removal of the implanted prosthesis gradually improved the symptoms, suggesting that symptom development was likely due to the implanted prosthesis. Unidentified materials of the implanted breast prosthesis were investigated by chemical and medical analysis to determine how the developed eczematous symptoms were induced by the prosthesis. Through the investigation, not only the prosthesis materials but also the manufacturer of the implanted breast prosthesis was identified. On the basis of the results and the previous reports, a speculation was made as to a plausible explanation for the pathogenesis of the eczematous symptoms.


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Tokyo Women's Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Yoshikatsu
Y
Akiyama
Masayuki
M
Yamato
Takamitsu
T
Higashimori
Teruo
T
Okano
Hiroyuku
H
Sakurai
D000328:Adult; D018427:Breast Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004485:Eczema / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans