title: Silicone granuloma from ruptured breast implants as a cause of cervical lymphadenopathy.
abstract: A 56-year-old woman with a 10-year history of bilateral silicone breast implants presented to the ear, nose and throat outpatient clinic with a 2-month history of a right-sided neck lump. She was found to have a 1.3cm supraclavicular lymph node that gave the clinical impression of being reactive. Ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration was inconclusive and initial review of subsequent computed tomography failed to identify a cause. This was followed by excisional biopsy of the lymph node, which revealed a silicone granuloma that was linked to a ruptured right-sided breast implant placed ten years previously. This case highlights the importance for otolaryngologists to consider silicone granuloma among the differential diagnoses of cervical lymphadenopathy in patients with a history of silicone breast implants. Recognising this differential diagnosis could avoid undue anxiety for patient and clinician regarding more serious pathology.
authors.affiliation: Northern Health and Social Care Trust , UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Borghol
authors.affiliation: Northern Health and Social Care Trust , UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: Northern Health and Social Care Trust , UK.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Skelly
mesh_terms: D018427:Breast Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000072281:Lymphadenopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D012828:Silicones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones
keywords: Breast implants; Cervical lymphadenopathy; Otolaryngology; Silicone granuloma