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Linguine sign at MR imaging: does it represent the collapsed silicone implant shell?
D P Gorczyca1, N D DeBruhl, D F Mund
1Iris Cantor Center for Breast Imaging, University of California Los Angeles Medical Center 90024.
Radiology
|May 1, 1994
Summary
The linguine sign on MR imaging, characterized by curvilinear hypointense lines, is caused by the collapsed shell of a ruptured silicone implant, not free silicone. This finding aids in diagnosing implant integrity.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Breast implants are common medical devices.
- Rupture of silicone implants can occur.
- Accurate diagnosis of implant rupture is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cause of the "linguine sign" observed in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of ruptured silicone breast implants.
- To differentiate between the implant shell and free silicone in MR imaging.
Main Methods:
- Surgical placement of intact and ruptured single-lumen silicone implants in a rabbit model.
- Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging performed before and after implant removal.
- Imaging of the ruptured implant and its shell alone in saline solution.
Main Results:
- The "linguine sign" (multiple curvilinear hypointense lines) was observed in MR images of the ruptured implant and the implant shell alone.
- The linguine sign was not present in the MR images of free silicone.
- The collapsed implant shell was identified as the cause of the linguine sign.
Conclusions:
- The collapsed shell of a ruptured silicone implant is responsible for the "linguine sign" seen on MR imaging.
- This finding helps in the accurate interpretation of MR images for diagnosing silicone implant rupture.
- Distinguishing the implant shell from free silicone is important for diagnostic clarity.