Breast implant rupture: diagnosis with US.

Abstract

To characterize sonographic criteria for the detection of implant rupture. One hundred nineteen symptomatic women (221 silicone implants) were evaluated with ultrasound (US) over 11 months to detect implant rupture. Fifty-nine breast prostheses in 31 women were surgically removed. Five sonographic findings associated with rupture were identified: echogenic noise, low-level homogeneous echoes within the implant, echogenic lines coursing within the implant, a contour bulge of the implant, and peri-implant fluid accumulations. The most useful finding in the detection of implant rupture was low-level homogeneous echoes, which were associated with 55% of ruptured implants and 16% of intact implants. This was statistically significant, achieving a 55% sensitivity and 84% specificity for the detection of implant rupture. Nine of 22 ruptured implants (41%) displayed none of the described criteria. US may be useful to detect implant rupture; however, a larger prospective study is necessary for adequate evaluation.