Effects of Capsular Contracture on Ultrasonic Screening for Silicone Gel Breast Implant Rupture

Abstract

Unlike computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound is an inexpensive test of postential use in detecting silicone gel breast implant (SBI) rupture. However, Periprosthetic capsular contractre can make ultrasonic diagnosis of rupture difficult because the contacture-related radial folds inside the SBI can lead to a false-positive diagtnosis of rupture. This study was conducted to determine the effects of capsular contracture on the ability of ultrasound to diagnose SBI rupture. Preoperative ultrasonic results of 122 SBIs were compared with surgical findings at the time of implant removal. The sensitivity and negative predictive values of ultrasound were lower in the presence of a contracted capsule (41.2% vs. 68.7%, P = 0.062; and 58.3% vs. 79.6%, p = 0.056 respectively). Ultrasound should be considered reliable in diagnosing SBI rupture only in the absence of a contracted capsule.

Medot M, Landis GH, McGregor CE, Gutowski KA, Foshager MC, Griffiths HJ, Cunningham BL. Effects of capsular contracture on ultrasonic screening for sillicone gel breast implant rupture.