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Anatomically shaped breast prosthesis in vivo: a change of dimension?
Martine D Nipshagen1, Werner H Beekman, Danielle L Esmé
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tergooiziekenhuizen Hilversum, Van Riebeeckweg 212, 1213 XZ Hilversum, The Netherlands.
Background:
In addition to the already existing round cohesive gel-filled breast prostheses, anatomically shaped breast prostheses were introduced in 1990 to provide a more natural shape to the augmented or reconstructed breast. To date, however, it is unclear whether the anatomic configuration of the prostheses is maintained after subpectoral implantation. Recently, a three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique became available, offering a precise visualization of the prosthesis in vivo. Using this 3D MRI technique, this study aimed to compare the shape of commercially available round and anatomically shaped silicone gel-filled breast prostheses before and after implantation.
Methods:
Using 3D MRI, 6 conventionally round and 12 symmetrically shaped silicone gel-filled prostheses were scanned in vitro. Scans were made in vivo 6 weeks after subpectoral implantation of these prostheses in nine patients. The in vivo 3D images were compared with the in vitro 3D images.
Results:
Overall, a 3.5% decrease in projection was found on the in vivo images, as compared with the in vitro images. On the craniocaudally oriented images, a slight lateral shift of the cohesive gel was observed in the majority of the prostheses. Inamed Style 510 prostheses showed the best in vivo preservation of their configuration.
Conclusions:
The results show that both the round and the anatomically shaped silicone prostheses in vivo largely maintain their original in vitro configuration after subpectoral implantation.