Late seroma during pregnancy, a rare complication in prosthetic breast augmentation: case report

A 29 year old Hispanic woman with a history of breast augmentation and a pregnancy complicated by placental abruption presented to the plastic surgery service for evaluation of a swollen right breast. The patient was examined and several tests were performed to rule out infection, galactocele, and malignancy. The swelling was attributed to fluid adjacent to her implant which was aspirated and found to contain red blood cells and foam cells but no infectious agent or malignant cells. One month after aspiration and continued drainage, the patient returned with recurrent swelling and pain. Repeat imaging showed recurrent fluid collection in the right breast. Excision and capsulectomy were performed and the patient was found to have a double capsule with a seroma. This article presents the first known case of pregnancy-associated late implant seroma formation, as well as a brief review of the literature regarding this rare finding in prosthetic breast augmentation.