A Case of Foreign-Body Granuloma of the Glabella due to Polyacrylamide Filler and an Intractable Ulcer after Skin Biopsy: An Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Inflammatory Changes

Granulomatous mastitis and pectoralis major muscle defect following polyacrylamide hydrogel injection: a case report and literature review

Background

Breast augmentation through the injection of polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAAG) was a popular procedure in the past, but it has since been prohibited due to various complications, including masses, migration, infection, inflammation, and even cancer. However, there were rare cases of granulomatous mastitis with pectoralis major muscle defect following PAAG injection for breast augmentation.

Case Description

A 40-year-old female patient presented with a swollen and suppurative mass in her left breast and was insensitive to antibiotics. She was admitted to our department for further treatment after 7 months with progressive local and general symptoms. Ultrasound imaging showed ill-defined heterogeneous echoes, and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed non-mass enhancement lesions in the multiregional distribution in Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System 4A (BI-RADS 4A) with oedema in the retroglandular space and multiple enlarged lymph nodes in the ipsilateral axilla. Intraoperative observations revealed necrotic tissues, multiple abscesses, residual mucoid PAAG prosthesis diffused into the mammary glands and intramuscularly into the pectoralis muscle, and partial loss of pectoralis major muscle. Histopathological results revealed foreign-body granulomas accompanied by gel-like granular PAAG and proliferative inflammatory cells. She recovered after undergoing the characteristic surgical management in our center under general anesthesia and had no recurrence during the 2-year follow-up.

Conclusions

This case revealed that PAAG injection for augmentation mammaplasty, even after the removal operation, could result in subsequent complications, including granulomatous mastitis and pectoralis major muscle damage. PAAG filler complications are difficult to treat, therefore, it is essential to establish appropriate and effective therapeutic procedures.

Bio-inspired poly-DL-serine materials resist the foreign-body response

Implantation-caused foreign-body response (FBR) is a commonly encountered issue and can result in failure of implants. The high L-serine content in low immunogenic silk sericin, and the high D-serine content as a neurotransmitter together inspire us to prepare poly-DL-serine (PSer) materials in mitigating the FBR. Here we report highly water soluble, biocompatible and easily accessible PSer hydrogels that cause negligible inflammatory response after subcutaneous implantation in mice for 1 week and 2 weeks. No obvious collagen capsulation is found surrounding the PSer hydrogels after 4 weeks, 3 months and 7 months post implantation. Histological analysis on inflammatory cytokines and RNA-seq assay both indicate that PSer hydrogels show low FBR, comparable to the Mock group. The anti-FBR performance of PSer hydrogels at all time points surpass the poly(ethyleneglycol) hydrogels that is widely utilized as bio-inert materials, implying the potent and wide application of PSer materials in implantable biomaterials and biomedical devices.

Management of Vesicoureteral Reflux: What Have We Learned Over the Last 20 Years?

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is associated with increased risks of urinary tract infection, renal scarring and reflux nephropathy. We review advancements over the last two decades in our understanding and management of VUR. Over time, the condition may resolve spontaneously but it can persist for many years and bladder/bowel dysfunction is often involved. Some factors that increase the likelihood of persistence (e.g., high grade) also increase the risk of renal scarring. Voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) is generally considered the definitive method for diagnosing VUR, and helpful in determining the need for treatment. However, this procedure causes distress and radiation exposure. Therefore, strategies to reduce clinicians' reliance upon VCUG (e.g., after a VUR treatment procedure) have been developed. There are several options for managing patients with VUR. Observation is suitable only for patients at low risk of renal injury. Antibiotic prophylaxis can reduce the incidence of UTIs, but drawbacks such as antibiotic resistance and incomplete adherence mean that this option is not viable for long-term use. Long-term studies of endoscopic injection have helped us understand factors influencing use and the effectiveness of this procedure. Ureteral reimplantation is still performed commonly, and robot-assisted laparoscopic methods are gaining popularity. Over the last 20 years, there has been a shift toward more conservative management of VUR with an individualized, risk-based approach. For continued treatment improvement, better identification of children at risk of renal scarring, robust evidence regarding the available interventions, and an improved VUR grading system are needed.

Another face of dermal fillers

Potential complications related to dermal fillers depend on the type of the fillers and the site of their application. The classification of dermal filler complications can be divided into early and late, and into minor and major events. According to their mechanism, they can be divided into non-ischaemic and ischaemic complications. The aim of this study is to present possible complications related to dermal fillers, to explain their aetiology and to propose preventive management and treatment. Non-ischaemic complications can be technique-dependent and include the reactions at the site of the injection, contour irregularities, and inflammatory and infectious reactions. They are usually resolved as a matter of course after 2-7 days. Arterial or venous occlusion leads to ischemia, with subsequent necrosis of the skin and/or vision loss.

Granulomatous foreign-body reactions to permanent fillers: detection of CD123+ plasmacytoid dendritic cells

BACKGROUND

Soft-tissue augmentation with permanent fillers can lead to severe granulomatous foreign-body reactions (GFBRs), but the immune pathomechanism of this complication is still unknown. We performed conventional histologic examination and immunostaining for plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in skin sections from patients with GFBR to 4 permanent filler agents, which have been widely used in recent decades.

METHODS

Twenty-one skin biopsies were studied from 19 patients with GFBR to polyalkylimide 4% gel (PAIG, n = 10), polyacrylamide 2.5% gel (PAAG, n = 2), hydroxyethyl methacrylate/ethyl methacrylate in hyaluronic acid (HEMA/EMA, n = 4), or liquid injectable silicone (n = 5). GFBRs were analyzed in hematoxylin and eosin stained sections and pDCs detected using CD123 antibodies. Anti-CD11c immunostaining was performed for comparison.

RESULTS

Grading of the inflammatory infiltrates observed histologically did not correlate with the clinical features of inflammation. Immunostaining for CD123 did not detect pDCs in 8 of 10 polyalkylimide gel, 1 of 2 polyacrylamide gel, and the 5 liquid injectable silicone biopsies. In contrast, all 4 HEMA/EMA biopsies contained collections of pDCs in lymphocytic infiltrates close to filler particles and adjacent sarcoidal granulomas.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that pDCs contribute to the sarcoidal granulomas associated with injected HEMA/EMA. Recruited pDCs may exert their pro-inflammatory effects by the release of interferon-α at the site of these filler deposits.