Abstract

AMORRORTU, J. et al. "Doctor I've a lump in the armpit". Silicone lymphadenopathy after breast augmentation: eight cases. Cir. plást. iberolatinoam. [online]. 2010, vol.36, n.2, pp.115-126. ISSN 1989-2055.

Axillary lymphadenopathy associated with augmentation mammoplasty with silicone implants is a rare occurrence, not exceptional, and very worrying for patient and surgeon. We reviewed 1697 medical records of patients undergoing augmentation mammoplasty with silicone implants in order to study the relationship between implant rupture and axillary lymphadenopathy The 1697 patients were divided into groups having 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 years after surgery. We reviewed the medical records and studied those who consulted for suspected implant rupture and axillary lymph nodes There were no implant rupture before 5 years after surgery. The percentage of rupture was 1.2% at 5 years and 2.3% at 7 years. Silicon lymphadenopathy occurred in 55% of the ruptures detected at 5 years and 61.6% of the ruptures detected at 7 years. Several studies have shown that breast implants will biodegrade over time leading in a more or less long time to rupture. In some cases rupture of the mammary implant filled with silicone gel, leads to the appearance of axillary lymphadenopathy. Sometimes the primary symptom of rupture, specially when they are filled with high cohesiveness gel, is the appearance of lymphadenopathy. Surgeons should think about keeping patients under periodic reviews and in an implants exchange program.

Keywords : Mammoplasty; Breast Implants; Axillary lymphadenopathy.

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