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Is granulomatous thyroiditis a complication of breast implants?

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Abstract

Granulomatous inflammation of the thyroid can occur secondarily to many underlying disease states, both infectious and noninfectious. Silicon, the second most abundant element on earth after oxygen, has been associated with autoimmune connective-tissue diseases and production of autoantibodies in patients with silicone breast implants. However, there has been no proven cause-and-effect relationship. Cases of granulomatous lymphadenopathy and pericapsular granulomatous reactions have been reported with silicone breast implants owing to silicone leakage. In this article, we report, for the first time, a case of granulomatous thyroiditis associated with silicone breast implants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Ally P. H. Prebtani MD &  Shereen Ezzat MD

  2. Department of Pathology, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Canada

    Sylvia L. Asa MD

  3. the Freeman Centre for Endocrine Oncology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Sylvia L. Asa MD

Authors
  1. Ally P. H. Prebtani MD
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  2. Sylvia L. Asa MD
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  3. Shereen Ezzat MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shereen Ezzat MD.

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Prebtani, A.P.H., Asa, S.L. & Ezzat, S. Is granulomatous thyroiditis a complication of breast implants?. Endocr Pathol 13, 239–244 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1385/EP:13:3:239

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/EP:13:3:239

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