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Prosthetic Breast Implant Rupture: Imaging—Pictorial Essay

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Abstract

In recent years, requests for breast implant surgery have occurred for several reasons. First, the number of diagnosed breast cancer cases has increased, and the number of reconstructive surgeries consequently has multiplied. Second, the number of patients who constantly try to achieve a better physical shape, corresponding in Western countries to the common image of prosperous and tonic breasts, has proliferated. These circumstances have led to an increasingly frequent need for more accurate and sophisticated imaging methods to study prosthetic breast implants and their integrity. Diagnostic imaging for the study of patients with suspected breast implant ruptures uses different techniques of radiologic investigation such as mammography and ultrasonography, even if the current gold standard is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).This study aimed to draw attention to the main MRI signs capable of highlighting contractures or ruptures of the implants that are not always clinically detectable and thus to provide plastic surgeons with an adequate instrument for discerning any possible alterations in prosthetic implants. Furthermore, it was necessary to stress the importance of teamwork. In fact, proper cooperation and coordination between radiologists and dedicated plastic surgeons are fundamental for the proper management of patients and the complications they may experience.

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Abbreviations

MRI:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

CM:

Contrast medium

SE:

Spin echo

FSE:

Fast SE

GE:

Gradient echo

STIR:

Short tau inversion recovery sequence

WAT SAT-STIR:

Water saturation with STIR sequence

WS STIR:

STIR sequence with water saturation

TIRM:

Turbo inversion recovery sequence

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Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Koru Day Clinic Center, Via XXIV Maggio 4, Novi Ligure, AL, Italy

    Giuseppe Colombo & Vittorio Ruvolo

  2. Biochemistry Section, Department of Experimental Medicine (DI.ME.S.), Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (C.E.B.R.), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 1-16132, Genoa, Italy

    Roberto Stifanese

  3. U.O.S. of Senology, S. Martino Hospital, Genoa, Italy

    Marco Perillo & Alessandro Garlaschi

Authors
  1. Giuseppe Colombo
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  2. Vittorio Ruvolo
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  3. Roberto Stifanese
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  4. Marco Perillo
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  5. Alessandro Garlaschi
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Correspondence to Giuseppe Colombo.

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Colombo, G., Ruvolo, V., Stifanese, R. et al. Prosthetic Breast Implant Rupture: Imaging—Pictorial Essay. Aesth Plast Surg 35, 891–900 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-011-9694-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-011-9694-z

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