[MRI and MR spectroscopy after silicone breast implants in the female breast]

This paper reviews the evaluation of the breast of women by MR-techniques after implantation with silicon gel protheses. The main topics are the diagnosis of implant defects such as extensive "gel bleed" and intra- and extracapsular ruptures. Moreover, the MR-detection of siliconomas (encapsulated silicone) and differentiation from malignomas as well as MR-features of chronic foreign body reactions are presented. "Gel bleed" is difficult to diagnose unambiguously by MRI alone. The "linguini" sign is the only reliable mans to diagnose intracapsular ruptures. The presence of silicone outside the implant capsule indicates extracapsular rupture. The MR-spectroscopic detection of silicone in the liver suggests after short implantation times and a normal MR scan the diagnosis "gel bleed", and after longer implantation times of more than 10 years and missing "linguini" sign the diagnosis of ruptures due to a dissolved shell of the implant. MRI, in comparison to other imaging modalities, has the highest specificity and sensitivity in the diagnosis of implant defects. Due to its high costs, however, MR is not suitable as a screening tool and should only be used in cases of sonographic suspected rupture or after radical mastectomy. In these cases MRI is the method of choice.