FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED MICROSPECTROSCOPY USED TO IDENTIFY FOREIGNMATERIALS RELATED TO BREAST IMPLANTS

Clinically useful methods to identify and document the presence of for eign material in tissues surrounding breast implants are needed. Fouri er transform infrared microspectroscopy is an ideal technique for exam ining tissue for the presence of implantable biomaterials. Because the spectroscopy is microscopically guided, the pathologist is assured th at the obtained spectrum is from the region of interest in a tissue se ction. Scanning electron microscopy yields elemental data but cannot b e used to identify compounds. Because each compound has a unique spect rum by Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy, the spectrum obta ined enables identification of the various foreign materials observed by light microscopy in tissues surrounding breast implants. Histopatho logy from implant capsules demonstrating a silicone gel-filled implant , a saline-filled textured implant, a polyurethane foam-covered gel-fi lled implant, a Dacron fixation patch, and a paraffin injection granul oma are presented with corresponding Fourier transform infrared micros pectroscopy spectra.