Ultrasound versus MRI for evaluation of silicone leakage from silicone breast implants.

Background: Implant ruptures and gel bleed are not uncommon among women with silicone breast implants. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is traditionally considered the gold standard diagnostic modality, recent studies suggest ultrasound might be an acceptable alternative. This study compares the efficacy of ultrasound and MRI in assessing implant integrity. Methods: Women with silicone breast implants underwent a breast and axillary ultrasound and MRI on the same day. All tests were assessed by experienced radiologists. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of ultrasound and MRI for implant rupture detection and silicone depositions in axillary lymph nodes were evaluated. Findings: A total of 104 women participated in the study. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of ultrasound for detecting implant ruptures compared to MRI were 96 %, 95 %, and 96 %, respectively. MRI demonstrated significantly lower sensitivity (44 %) for detecting silicone depositions in axillary lymph nodes compared to ultrasound. A significant association was observed between the presence of enlarged axillary lymph nodes and/or axillary pain and the detection of silicone depositions in axillary lymph nodes on ultrasound (χ2 (1, N = 104) = 5·1, p = 0·024). Six women exhibited silicone depositions in axillary lymph nodes despite having intact first-pair implants, indicative of gel bleed. Interpretation: Ultrasound is nearly as effective as MRI for detecting breast implant ruptures and is superior for detecting silicone depositions in axillary lymph nodes. We therefore recommend initiating radiological examination in women with breast implants with a breast and axillary ultrasound, proceeding to MRI only if the ultrasound is inconclusive. The prevalence of gel bleed is understudied and its potential adverse health effects might be underestimated. Further research is needed to explore its potential association with development of systemic symptoms.

A Comparative Analysis of Local and Systemic Immunological Biomarkers in Females With Breast Implants and Capsular Contracture.

Background: The etiology of capsular contracture (CC), the most common complication following breast augmentation, remains unclear. Chronic, fibrotic inflammation resulting in excessive fibrosis has been proposed as a potential mechanism. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the relation between biomarkers that are associated with inflammation and fibrosis and the severity of CC. Methods: Fifty healthy females were categorized into 3 groups: females with no-to-mild CC (Baker 1-2; n = 15), females with severe CC (Baker 3-4; n = 20), and a control group awaiting breast augmentation (n = 15). We assessed 5 biomarkers (galectin-1 [Gal-1], interferon-ß [INF-ß], interferon-γ [INF-γ], interleukin-6 [IL-6], and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]) in breast implant capsules and serum samples. Results: No significant differences in intracapsular cytokine levels were observed between the Baker 1-2 and the Baker 3-4 groups, as the levels were generally low and, in some cases, almost undetectable. In the blood samples, no significant differences in Gal-1, INF-γ, IL-6, or TNF-α levels were found within the 3 groups. We identified significantly increased levels of INF-ß (P = .009) in the blood samples of females with severe CC, driven mainly by 3 extremely high values. Conclusions: The cytokines assessed in this study did not reflect the degree of CC among females with silicone breast implants. However, 3 females with severe CC, who all had prolonged silicone exposure, showed extremely elevated levels of INF-ß in their serum samples. This possible association between prolonged silicone exposure and systemic inflammation in some females should be further investigated.

Silicone Migration from Intact Saline Breast Implants.

Breast augmentation is a widely performed surgical procedure worldwide, predominantly using silicone gel-filled implants. Concerns have primarily revolved around ruptures and the potential health risks associated with leaked silicone from silicone gel-filled implants. Cases of silicone migration from the shell of saline breast implants remain scarce. This case report introduces a unique case of a 66-year-old patient with silicone migration from intact saline breast implants. The patient presented with a range of symptoms consistent with breast implant illness. Radiological findings suggested the presence of silicone in the axillary lymph nodes, despite the integrity of the implants, thereby confirming silicone migration. Histopathological evaluation revealed a foreign body reaction and the presence of silicone in the axillary lymph nodes. Given the saline filling, the source is likely the polydimethylsiloxane shell. The rarity of documented silicone migration from intact saline breast implants, especially in patients with breast implant illness, underscores the need for more research into the health implications of leaked silicone particles from breast implants.

Patient-reported systemic symptoms in women with silicone breast implants: a descriptive cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: An unknown portion of women with silicone breast implants (SBI) report development of systemic symptoms, recently named as 'breast implant illness (BII)'. We aim to describe the symptoms and characteristics of women with SBI reporting these systemic symptoms and compare the clinical course of women who chose to keep their implants, to women who had their implants removed. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: Specialised BII out-patient clinic at Amsterdam UMC, the Netherlands, from 2011 to 2020. PARTICIPANTS: All women presenting to the BII clinic with SBI and systemic symptoms. RESULTS: 467 women were included for baseline analyses and 398 women for follow-up. Most frequently reported systemic symptoms at baseline included fatigue (88%), arthralgia (71%), morning stiffness (59%), myalgia (48%), cognitive impairment (33%), peripheral neurological symptoms (30%) and lymphadenopathy (22%). Furthermore, 56% reported pre-existing allergies at baseline and positive antinuclear antibodies were observed in 23%. At follow-up with a median of 3.3 years (IQR 2-4), 152 women had their implants removed on clinical grounds. Symptoms improved significantly in 65 women (43%), improved moderately in 37 women (24%), did not change in 37 women (24%) and deteriorated in 13 women (9%). Women who underwent explantation showed more improvement of their systemic symptoms compared with women who did not (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.3 to 6.2). Additionally, women who underwent explantation within 10 years after implantation improved significantly better than women who got the implants removed after 10 years (p=0.007). Lastly, local symptoms decreased from 75% to 34% after implant removal (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Most women with SBI who developed systemic symptoms experienced improvement after explantation, especially when removed within 10 years after implantation. Early recognition of the pattern of systemic symptoms in women with SBI is important and implant removal should be considered.

Renal sinus fat and renal hemodynamics: a cross-sectional analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Increased renal sinus fat (RSF) is associated with hypertension and chronic kidney disease, but underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. We evaluated relations between RSF and gold-standard measures of renal hemodynamics in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. METHODS: Fifty-one T2D patients [age 63 ± 7 years; BMI 31 (28-34) kg/m2; GFR 83 ± 16 mL/min/1.73 m2] underwent MRI-scanning to quantify RSF volume, and subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue compartments (SAT and VAT, respectively). GFR and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) were determined by inulin and PAH clearances, respectively. Effective renal vascular resistance (ERVR) was calculated. RESULTS: RSF correlated negatively with GFR (r = - 0.38; p = 0.006) and ERPF (r = - 0.38; p = 0.006) and positively with mean arterial pressure (MAP) (r = 0.29; p = 0.039) and ERVR (r = 0.45, p = 0.001), which persisted after adjustment for VAT, MAP, sex, and BMI. After correction for age, ERVR remained significantly related to RSF. CONCLUSIONS: In T2D patients, higher RSF volume was negatively associated to GFR. In addition, RSF volume was positively associated with increased renal vascular resistance, which may mediate hypertension and CKD development. Further research is needed to investigate how RSF may alter the (afferent) vascular resistance of the renal vasculature.

Aspirin intake in the morning is associated with suboptimal platelet inhibition, as measured by serum Thromboxane B2, during infarct-prone early-morning hours.

Aspirin is traditionally taken once daily in the morning and considered to be effective throughout the 24h interval. Cardiovascular events occur most frequently in the early morning, suggesting that these hours are critical in terms of adequate platelet inhibition. This study therefore assed platelet function in the early morning-8.00 AM-in healthy volunteers, during a once-daily (OD) 80 mg morning in comparison with an OD evening regimen and a twice-daily (BID) 40 mg regimen. It was an open-label randomized cross-over study, comprising 12 healthy subjects. Subjects were allocated to three sequential dosage regimens: 80 mg OD at 8.00 AM, 80mg OD at 8.00 PM, and 40 mg BID at 8.00 AM and PM. Platelet function 12 and 24 hours after aspirin intake was measured by means of serum thromboxane B2 (sTxB2) levels, the collagen/epinephrine closure time (Platelet Function Analyzer(PFA)-200®) and the Aspirin Reaction Units (ARU, VerifyNow®). The results demonstrated that early morning sTxB2 concentrations were 5843pg in the morning regimen, 2877pg in the evening OD regimen, and 3343pg in the BID regimen (morning- vs evening regimen p = < 0.01; morning- vs BID regimen p = < 0.01). Early morning PFA-closure time (p = 0.12)) as well as VerifyNow ARU (p = 0.17) mean values were similar for all three regimens. In conclusion, the OD-morning regimen seems to acquire the lowest level of platelet inhibition during the critical early morning window. Switching to an OD-evening or BID intake seems prudent, although further research on clinical cardiovascular outcome in patients with stable cardiovascular disease is needed.