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Penrose Drain as a Foreign Body in the Breast
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The Breast Journal
|May 12, 2001
Summary
Retained Penrose drains after breast surgery can act as foreign bodies, mimicking new nodules or calcifications. This highlights the importance of considering surgical history in diagnosing post-operative breast changes.
Area of Science:
- Surgical pathology
- Radiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Breast nodule exeresis and drainage are common surgical procedures.
- Foreign bodies can complicate surgical outcomes.
- Penrose drains are frequently used in breast surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report two cases of retained Penrose drains after breast surgery.
- To discuss the implications of retained surgical drains as foreign bodies.
- To emphasize the importance of considering surgical history in differential diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Case report of two patients undergoing breast nodule exeresis and drainage.
- Review of potential causes for retained surgical drains.
- Discussion of diagnostic challenges posed by foreign bodies.
Main Results:
- In both cases, a portion of the Penrose drain remained in the surgical cavity.
- The retained drain fragments acted as foreign bodies.
- These foreign bodies mimicked clinical and mammographic findings.
Conclusions:
- Retained surgical drains can act as foreign bodies in the breast.
- This complication necessitates consideration in the differential diagnosis of breast abnormalities near surgical scars.
- Awareness of retained drains is crucial for accurate interpretation of post-operative mammograms and clinical examinations.