Imaging findings of mammary and systemic silicone deposition secondary to breast implants.

Abstract

In patients with silicone breast implants, implant rupture can occur, which can be intra- or extracapsular. Following implant rupture, silicone can travel through the lymphatic system into regional and distant lymph nodes. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to present findings of silicone implant rupture with intramammary and systemic silicone deposition as seen on dual energy CT, ultrasound, mammogram, PET/CT and MRI. We include imaging findings of silicone deposition in the breast in cases of intra- and extracapsular rupture. We also present silicone deposition in mediastinal, axillary, and internal mammary lymph nodes, as well as in the liver and spleen. To our knowledge, deposition of silicone in the liver and spleen has not been previously demonstrated on cross-sectional imaging. While all imaging modalities were able to detect silicone in the spleen, ultrasound appeared to be more sensitive than dual energy CT or MRI for detection of silicone deposition in the liver.