Imaging breasts with silicone implants

Over the last two decades, the use of breast implants both for breast augme ntation and for breast reconstruction following mastectomy has increased su bstantially. It is estimated that around two million women have undergone b reast augmentation, while hundreds of thousands have bad breast reconstruct ion surgery. Different types of material have been used for breast implants , but silicone gel implants have been the dominating implant type. Many imp lants can lead to complications, such as hardening and rupture, and may the refore need in vivo evaluation by imaging, particularly if they lead to cli nical symptoms. They can also pose problems in the assessment of surroundin g breast tissue by conventional mammography. In this respect, imaging modal ities such as ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imagin g offer greater possibilities to assess a failing implant, as well as surro unding breast tissue. Several factors, mainly of a psychological nature, le ad to requests for breast implants. In this review article, only the imagin g aspects of breasts with silicone gel implants will be dealt with. Each mo dality is concisely presented with its possibilities and limitations.