Axillary Silicone Granulomas in Patients With Melanoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Melanoma follow-up often involves monitoring for subcutaneous lesions.
• Differential diagnosis includes in-transit and regional lymph node metastases.
• Breast implants can complicate the interpretation of axillary lesions.

Observation:

• Two cases of women with breast implants and melanoma developed subcutaneous axillary lesions.
• Ultrasound demonstrated diffuse hyperechoic signals in the subcutaneous tissue.
• The characteristic "snowstorm sign" was observed on ultrasound.

Findings:

• Ultrasound effectively differentiated subcutaneous lesions in patients with breast implants.
• The "snowstorm sign" was indicative of non-melanoma related findings.
• Melanoma-related disease, such as in-transit or lymph node metastases, was ruled out.

Implications:

• Ultrasound is a crucial tool for evaluating subcutaneous lesions in melanoma patients with breast implants.
• This imaging modality aids in accurate diagnosis and avoids unnecessary interventions.
• Understanding the "snowstorm sign" improves diagnostic confidence in this specific patient population.