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Augmentation mammoplasty and "silicone-osis".
H Englert1, E Joyner, M Thompson
1Rheumatology Department, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Internal Medicine Journal
|December 22, 2004
Summary
This study investigated "silicone-osis" in breast augmentation patients. Findings suggest a multisystem disorder but do not confirm silicone-osis as a unique disease entity.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Immunology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Claims suggest breast augmentation causes a novel disease, termed "silicone-osis".
- This study aimed to investigate the validity of these claims.
Purpose of the Study:
- To confirm or refute the existence of "silicone-osis".
- To characterize the potential symptoms and disease patterns associated with silicone implants.
Main Methods:
- A population-based retrospective cohort study compared 458 women with cosmetic augmentation mammoplasty to 687 women who underwent other plastic surgeries.
- Groups were matched for age, surgery year, and surgical team.
- Health outcomes were assessed using a comprehensive symptom list and dummy variables to control for reporting bias.
Main Results:
- The augmentation mammoplasty-exposed group did not over-report dummy symptoms.
- Increased reporting of specific symptoms like memory loss, chest pain, shortness of breath, breast pain, night sweats, and tunnel vision was observed in the exposed group.
- Five symptom clusters with potential biological importance, characterized by night sweats and lethargy, were more common in the exposed cohort.
Conclusions:
- Cluster analysis indicated a multisystem disorder more prevalent in the augmentation mammoplasty-exposed group.
- However, the presence of similar symptoms in the unexposed cohort argues against "silicone-osis" being a new disease entity uniquely caused by silicone.
- The study did not confirm "silicone-osis" as a distinct disease entity causally linked to silicone exposure.