SCLERODERMA FOLLOWING SILICONE IMPLANTATION - A CUMULATIVE EXPERIENCEOF 11 CASES

In the 3 years since the initial report of 5 patients who developed sc leroderma in association with silicone breast implants, 6 additional s ilicone implant recipients have presented with scleroderma. Two of the se patients received silicone chin implants. A total of 5 patients ele cted to remove their prostheses. Two patients have had marked improvem ent of cutaneous scleroderma. The other 3 patients, however, died seco ndary to progressive visceral involvement. This cumulative experience of 11 cases of scleroderma following silicone implantation suggests ad ditional evidence of an association between the 2. Careful case contro l studies over an extended period of time are required to determine th e incidence of this outcome.