Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
Volume 59, Issue 8 , August 2006, Pages 885-886
Case Report
Locoregional silicone spread after high cohesive gel silicone implant rupture
Anindya Lahiri and Ruth Watersa
aSelly Oak Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham, Raddlebarn Road, Birmingham B29 6JD, UK
Received 3 December 2005; accepted 28 December 2005. Available online 20 February 2006.
Summary
A 45-year-old patient had routine cosmetic bilateral breast augmentation 6 years previously using cohesive gel implants. She presented 4 years later with a breast lump and multiple axillary lymph nodes. Exploration revealed that the breast implant had a large tear at the posterior wall of the shell with intra-capsular leakage of silicone. The axilla had eight enlarged lymph node—all were removed. Histology showed silicone granuloma in the capsule and silicone lymphadenitis. High cohesive gel implants may not be as safe as is commonly believed and all implant ruptures, irrespective of the cohesiveness of the silicone gel, should be investigated thoroughly. 
