Migration of a Ruptured, Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implant into Sternal and Abdominal Areas

Abstract

Breast implants have been used for breast reconstruction and augmentation for the last 50 years. There are about 100,000 women in the United Kingdom with silicone implants, of which approximately 60% are for breast reconstruction following mastectomy [1]. Approximately one to two million women have undergone breast implantation in the United States [2]. The silicone Poly Implant Prothese breast implant (also marketed as M-Implants and Rofil-implants) were made in France from 2001 until March 2010 [3]. Capsular contracture is a common complication following breast augmentation surgery [4]. In a 25-year prospective, population-based study, capsular contracture and malposition were reported as the first and third most common reasons for secondary surgery, respectively. Rupture has also long been considered one of the key complications of silicone-gel breast implants [5]. Rupture of silicone implants has received increased scrutiny over the years. Implant ruptures can be overt or silent. Sensitivity of plastic surgeons to a diagnosis of rupture is estimated to be approximately 30%. However, the gross migration of the gel from ruptured breast implants – associated with gel bleeding into either the breast parenchyma or surrounding areas – is rare [6]. The migration of silicone gels as subcutaneous nodules can cause local reactions such as siliconoma. Here we report a case of a woman with the distant migration of silicone gel from a ruptured breast implant into the sternal and abdominal areas.