title: Sonography in capsular contracture after breast augmentation: value of established criteria, new techniques and directions for research.
abstract: Capsular contracture or capsular fibrosis is the most common complication following breast augmentation with implants. Sonography is usually the initial imaging test performed to examine a suspicious implant. In contrast to the large number of patients developing capsular fibrosis there is only sparse literature reporting about sonographic findings. In this letter after a brief review of normal sonographic findings after breast augmentation, established ultrasound findings suggestive of capsular fibrosis (deformity, increased number of radial folds and thickening of the fibrous capsule) are discussed. The possible value of new techniques and possible directions for further research are addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Göttingen-Weende, An der Lutter 24, 37074 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gossner
mesh_terms: D001940:Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018427:Breast Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D057910:Implant Capsular Contracture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000009:adverse effects; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary
keywords: Breast augmentation; Capsular contracture; Sonography