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Imaging Features Following Breast Explant Surgery: A Pictorial Essay.
Yusuf T Akpolat1, Mark J Dryden1, Marion E Scoggins1
1Department of Breast Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 14, 2023
Summary
Breast explantation surgery (BES) removes breast implants for various reasons. Post-surgery imaging shows findings related to the surgical site, and careful review is crucial for detecting any new breast cancer concerns.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Oncology
- Plastic Surgery
Background:
- Breast implants are frequently removed via breast explantation surgery (BES) for diverse reasons.
- Limited data exists on the post-operative imaging appearance following BES.
- Breast implant illness (BII) is an emerging indication for explantation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the spectrum of imaging findings after breast explantation surgery (BES).
- To correlate imaging findings with specific BES techniques and adjunctive procedures.
- To emphasize the importance of recognizing benign post-surgical changes and differentiating them from malignancy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of patients undergoing BES between October 2016 and October 2021.
- Analysis of imaging reports to identify findings after explantation.
- Correlation of imaging findings with surgical techniques (capsulotomy, partial/total/en bloc capsulectomy) and aesthetic procedures (fat grafting, mastopexy, etc.).
Main Results:
- Post-BES imaging findings are predominantly related to the surgical scar/bed.
- Common findings include asymmetries, architectural distortions, calcifications, fat necrosis, hematomas, seromas, capsular calcifications, and granulomas.
- The type of explantation surgery influences the imaging appearance.
Conclusions:
- Imaging after BES demonstrates a variety of findings related to the surgical bed and explantation technique.
- Radiologists must be aware of these findings to accurately interpret post-explantation mammograms and ultrasounds.
- Vigilance for breast cancer is essential in patients with residual breast tissue after BES.
