Snowstorm sign (extracapsular breast implant rupture)

Last revised by Andrew Murphy on 23 Mar 2023

The snowstorm sign on breast ultrasound imaging represents the presence of free silicone droplets mixed with breast tissue giving a characteristic heterogeneous echogenic appearance with dispersion of the ultrasound beam. It is considered the most reliable sign of extracapsular breast implant rupture 1. A similar appearance may be seen in axillary nodes in the setting of gel bleed or silicone lymphadenopathy.

A similar sonographic sign has also been described in complete hydatiform moles.

See also

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