Pneumonitis caused by silicone gel following breast implant rupture

Pulmonary adverse events of breast silicone implants and silicone injection

The incidence of breast implants and silicone injections has continuously increased since their FDA approval for use in the 1960's. The prevalence of overall adverse events is approximately 20%. The actual incidence of pulmonary adverse events is unknown. This review focuses on the pulmonary adverse events of breast implants and silicone injections. Vascular complications are represented by acute and chronic embolisation syndromes with a clinico-radiological presentation of alveolar hemorrhage. Inflammatory complications are numerous, including siliconoma, which is a granulomatous reaction mimicking a mesothelioma. On the other hand, there are some reports arguing a link between the development of auto-immune diseases and breast implants, such as scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, and dermatomyositis. Finally, for patients with asthma, breast implants may contribute to poor disease control. Cases of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangeitis have been described. Thus, it is of interest to decipherate mechanisms and incidence of these effects in prospective studies to better manage pulmonary diseases in patients wearing breast implants in order to understand their role as culprits or bystanders. In addition, characterization of subpopulations with increased risk of adverse events is needed as we highlighted that some subpopulations seem to be at greater risk of developing them, notably asthmatics.

21-year-old silicone breast implants causing recurrent pneumonia, chest pain and coughing

A 50-year-old former smoker presented with recurrent pneumonia, fever and atypical chest pain on and off for a year and was treated with antibiotics several times. Meanwhile, her lung function deteriorated with an obstructive pattern and therefore she was treated with inhalation medication without effect. Tests of the heart, bronchoscopy, gastroscopy and a CT-scan of the lungs did not reveal the cause. Finally, an FDG-PET scan showed inflammation of the tissue on the backside of a 21-year-old silicone chest implant, which was intact but encapsulated. The chest implants were removed after which the patient has remained free of infections. However, the lung function impairment did not improve, and a new HRCT-scan demonstrated widespread emphysema.

Pulmonary fibrosis and embolism secondary to silicon implant leak

Pulmonary fibrosis in a patient with history of ruptured silicone breast implants may present a therapeutic challenge to diagnose and treat. In this case report, we aim to discuss our experience in diagnosing a patient with chronic silicone embolism syndrome masquerading as refractory multifocal pneumonia that presented with respiratory failure. A young woman with no significant past exposure having recurrent admissions to the hospital due to fever and shortness of breath was found to have chronic silicone embolism with pneumonitis. This case report emphasis the prompt diagnosis and treatment of silicone induced fibrosis and approach to the most common side effects of breast implants.

Acute pneumonitis following breast silicone liquid injection

Silicone injections, although well known for their adverse effect, are still widely used around the world. Pneumonitis after an injection of silicone liquid has been reported in several patients. Silicone liquid injection is frequently administered to transgender individuals into the buttocks area but is rarely used for the breasts. We report a case of presumed pneumonitis following breast silicone liquid injection. A 36-year-old woman was admitted due to shortness of breath three days after silicone liquid injection. Chest X-rays (CXR) showed bilateral alveolar patchy infiltrates. Chest computed tomography scan revealed diffuse infiltrates involving mostly peripheral lung fields (suggestive for silicone liquid injection) and multiple isodense soft-tissue nodules in both breasts. The treatment included antibiotic and steroid administration. After being treated for a week, clinical results and the latest CXR revealed improvement compared with the previous CXR, and the patient was discharged in good condition.

Silicone Migration after Buttock Augmentation

We present the case of a 30-year-old woman who presented with enlarged inguinal lymph nodes and sacral hyperpigmentation 4 months after gluteal augmentation with silicone implants. Inguinal lymph node biopsy revealed granulomatous lymphadenitis due to foreign material. Upon right buttock implant revision, a 1.5-cm-thick capsule was noted with the absence of peri-implant inflammatory fluid and no macroscopic implant defects. Analysis of the implant by the manufacturer revealed a microscopic silicone leak. The patient’s recovery was uneventful, and her symptoms resolved shortly after her reoperation.

Chronic Pulmonary Silicone Embolism from Breast Augmentation Is Not a Common Finding in Explanted Lungs

Objective

Acute pulmonary silicone embolism (APSE) related to subcutaneous silicone injections is a well-known entity. Recently, a few cases of pathologically confirmed chronic pulmonary silicone embolism (CPSE) from breast implants have been reported. The prevalence of CPSE in women with breast augmentation is unknown. This study was done to determine the prevalence of CPSE in female lung transplant recipients with a history of breast augmentation and to determine whether breast augmentation plays a role in chronic lung diseases requiring lung transplantation.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed to identify female lung transplant recipients with a history of breast augmentation prior to or at the time of lung transplantation. Ten patients meeting these criteria were identified. The pathologic features of the explanted lungs of these patients were reexamined for CPSE by a board-certified pathologist with expertise in lung transplantation and pulmonary embolism.

Results

Of 1518 lung transplant recipients at Cleveland Clinic, 578 were females. Of 578 females, 10 (1.73%) had history of breast augmentation. A total of 84 H&E-stained slides from the explanted lungs from 10 cases were examined. No pathologic evidence of chronic silicone embolism was seen in any of the 10 cases.

Conclusions

CPSE is not associated with pulmonary disease leading to lung transplantation. Breast augmentation is not a significant contributor to pulmonary disease requiring lung transplantation. Further studies are required to ascertain the prevalence of CPSE in the general breast augmentation populace and to define the relationship between breast augmentation and pulmonary disease.