MRI FINDINGS IN SUBJECTS WITH BREAST IMPLANTS

One-hundred and nineteen implants were imaged in an open-sided low-fie ld magnetic resonance imaging system. Thirty-four of these implants we re removed, and postoperative reports were made available. We found a variety of signs associated with the implants, including internal stru ctures, loss of saline in double-lumen implants. intracapsular and ext racapsular fluid accumulations,, signal dropout regions most likely as sociated with calcifications, and debris and fluid in the silicone, as well as degradation of the silicone, disruptions of the capsule and b ulging, and extracapsular silicone. Conclusions of intact versus ruptu red 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 percen t of the implants were considered ruptured.