Extracapsular Silicone Implant Rupture

IMAGING FINDINGS: ​

Craniocaudal and mediolateral oblique views of the right breast demonstrate a subglandular silicone implant rupture. The implant is deformed with high density free silicone present along the upper outer margin.
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WHY IT MATTERS:

1. The two main types of silicone implant rupture are intracapsular and extracapsular.  Extracapsular ruptures occur when the silicone is no longer confined by the implant shell or the surrounding fibrous capsule. There is free silicone in the breast.
2. Extracapsular or free silicone can be taken up by axillary or intramammary lymph nodes. It is very high density on mammography.

FURTHER READING:
The Augmented Breast: A Pictorial Review of the Abnormal and Unusual (AJR 2011)