The role of diagnostic imaging in women with breast implants.

Abstract

Women who have undergone augmentation mammoplasty with silicone gel implants may present for routine breast cancer screening or with palpable breast lumps. Conventional mammography supplemented by additional displaced or Eklund view is usually sufficient to detect most abnormalities. Ultrasonographic evaluation may be performed as an ancillary technique to characterize palpable lumps or nonpalpable lesions detected on mammography. In patients suspected of having implant rupture, conventional mammography and displaced views are performed. If clinical findings warrant, magnetic resonance imaging may be performed to detect intracapsular and extracapsular rupture and migration of silicone globules to the axilla, branchial plexus and adjacent structures.