Sonographic findings in silicone-induced granulomas and lymphadenopathy following mammaplastic surgery

Abstract

Ultrasound examination of the breast and its lymphatic drainage was undertaken in 78 patients who--after mammoplasty with silicone implants--had palpable lymph nodes, pain and sensation of tension in the area surrounding the implant. Five patients had space-occupying echo-dense inner structures and dense echos from structures dorsal to the space-occupying ones. In this way silicone granuloma could be demonstrated even preoperatively in tissues, musculature or lymph nodes, although the changes were palpable in only two of the five patients. Ultrasonography can thus be of great importance not only in the diagnosis but also in the preoperative localization of silicone-induced granulomas.