[Mammography and echography in the study of breast prosthesis]

Between October 1990 and December 1991, the authors studied 58 women with breast implants (46 monolateral and 12 bilateral prostheses) by means of clinical examination, mammography, and US. The patients' age ranged 31-56 years (mean: 32). Thirty women had undergone subpectoral implantation, 22 subcutaneous and 18 retroglandular. In the group of subpectoral prostheses, 4 women had periprosthetic fibrosis and 3 presented benign calcifications; in 1 case both fibrosis and calcifications were observed. In the depiction of retroglandular implants, US appeared to be very useful: indeed, it detected 3 fibroadenomas and 5 cysts that had been missed at mammography. The only 2 breast carcinoma recurrences (1 non-palpable lesion, confirmed at surgery) were observed in patients with retrocutaneous prostheses. Both mammography and US currently play a major role in the follow-up of women with breast implants. Benign complications and breast cancers can be promptly detected even in patients with no palpable findings.