Gel bleed

Case contributed by Roberto Schubert
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Bilateral breast implants. Left-sided mastodynia.

Patient Data

Age: 35 years
Gender: Female
mri

Low molecular weight silicone constituents may diffuse through an intact implant shell (gel bleed). This must be differentiated from intracapsular rupture. 

Case Discussion

STIR images with spectral selective sat pulses on the respective resonance frequencies of water and silicone are very accurate in differentiating fluid collections around the implant, but also very time-consuming.

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