A Breast Foreign Body Migrating to the Back

Sir:

A 72-year-old woman presented to our hospital with bilateral back nodules. She had received breast augmentation with silicone injections over 40 years ago; however, the silicon had moved in recent months and spread outside the breasts, resulting in breast deformations. She underwent silicone removal with partial resection of the pectoralis major muscle 6 months after the breast augmentation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

On presentation, the patient reported elevated masses in the back, growing over several years. Three-dimensional computed tomography showed some residual foreign bodies in the chest (Fig. 1) and masses under both the latissimus dorsi muscles (Fig. 2).

Fig. 1.

There are deformations of both breasts and some residual foreign bodies in the chest.

Fig. 2.

There are masses under both the latissimus dorsi muscles.

RESULTS

The excised masses comprised liquid silicone; they were thought to have moved through the loose tissue between the ribs and back muscles. The silicon had spread widely, and it was observed in the cervical and distal humerus.

DISCUSSION

In Japan and Asia, some people with silicone injections have experienced health issues^1–3; fortunately, this patient did not experience any silicon-related adverse events.

DISCLOSURE

The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article. The Article Processing Charge was paid for by the authors.