MRI findings in subjects with breast implants

One-hundred and nineteen implants were imaged in an open-sided low-field magnetic resonance imaging system. Thirty-four of these implants were removed, and postoperative reports were made available. We found a variety of signs associated with the implants, including internal structures, loss of saline in double-lumen implants, intracapsular and extracapsular fluid accumulations, signal dropout regions most likely associated with calcifications, and debris and fluid in the silicone, as well as degradation of the silicone, disruptions of the capsule and bulging, and extracapsular silicone. Conclusions of intact versus ruptured were made on the basis of these findings and found to be confirmed in 32 of 34 cases, with 1 false-positive and 1 false-negative result. Based on MRI criteria for a broad sample of the population, 27 percent of the implants were considered ruptured.