Validation of quantification of breast implant capsule surface area and volume using magnetic resonance imaging

Capsular contracture has been among the most frequent and frustrating complications of augmentation and reconstructive mammoplasty with silicone breast implants. Experimental evaluation of methods designed to modify the capsule has been limited by the lack of an effective method for quantification of contracture. It has been suggested that measurement of capsule surface area would be the most direct way to quantify capsular contracture. A method using magnetic resonance imaging for calculation of implant surface area is demonstrated; validation of this method using silicone phantoms with geometrically known surface areas is presented. The surface areas of two implants were also measured in a human subject; this represents the first reported measurement of an implant capsule surface area in vivo. Calculation of surface area according to the tiling method appears to be valid, whereas the circumference method consistently underestimates capsule surface area. Although clinical correlation has not been proved, it is hoped that further experimental studies of capsular contracture will incorporate this quantitative method.