Radiology, Vol 190, 819-823, Copyright © 1994 by Radiological Society of North America

ARTICLES

Breast implant rupture: diagnosis with US

CI Caskey, WA Berg, ND Anderson, S Sheth, BW Chang and UM Hamper
Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287.

PURPOSE: To characterize sonographic criteria for the detection of implant rupture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred nineteen symptomatic women (221 silicone implants) were evaluated with ultrasound (US) over 11 months to detect implant rupture. Fifty-nine breast prostheses in 31 women were surgically removed. RESULTS: Five sonographic findings associated with rupture were identified: echogenic noise, low-level homogeneous echoes within the implant, echogenic lines coursing within the implant, a contour bulge of the implant, and peri- implant fluid accumulations. The most useful finding in the detection of implant rupture was low-level homogeneous echoes, which were associated with 55% of ruptured implants and 16% of intact implants. This was statistically significant, achieving a 55% sensitivity and 84% specificity for the detection of implant rupture. Nine of 22 ruptured implants (41%) displayed none of the described criteria. CONCLUSION: US may be useful to detect implant rupture; however, a larger prospective study is necessary for adequate evaluation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. I. Caskey, W. A. Berg, U. M. Hamper, S. Sheth, B. W. Chang, and N. D. Anderson Imaging Spectrum of Extracapsular Silicone: Correlation of US, MR Imaging, Mammographic, and Histopathologic Findings RadioGraphics, October 1, 1999; 19(90001): 39 - 51. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. Lu, G. A. Rouse, and M. De Lange Sonoographic Detection of Silicone Breast Implant Rupture Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, January 1, 1995; 11(1): 3 - 8. [Abstract] [PDF]