Cl. Haycox et al., Quantitative detection of silicone in skin by means of electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), J AM ACAD D, 40(5), 1999, pp. 719-725
Background: Evaluation of silicone-induced morbidity in skin has been hampe
red by the difficulty of detecting silicone in tissue because conventional
methods are nonquantitative and insensitive.
Objective: We attempted to determine whether silicone could be identified a
nd quantitated in skin by means of electron spectroscopy for chemical analy
sis (ESCA).
Methods: Skin biopsy specimens were obtained from the nose, chin, malar reg
ion, and inner arm of a patient who had received injections of silicone gel
in his nose and chin. Frozen sections were dried under vacuum and examined
by means of ESCA. Contiguous sections were examined by light microscopy.
Results: The surface concentrations of silicone were as follows: chin, 20.6
% +/- 3.6%; nose, 19.0%; malar region, 2.6% +/- 1.6%; inner arm, 0.0% +/- 0
.0%. Light microscopy revealed homogeneous "globules" consistent with silic
one in the chin and nose sections only; the malar region and inner arm sect
ions showed no evidence of silicone.
Conclusion: ESCA can be used to detect silicone in skin in a specific, high
ly sensitive, and quantitative manner. This is the first report of quantifi
cation of silicone in skin by means of ESCA.