Silicone Reaction
Cyril Fisher, MD, DSc, FRCPath
Key Facts
Terminology
Tissue reaction to silicone (dimethylpolysiloxane) implant, liquid silicone, or silicone gel
Etiology/Pathogenesis
Leakage from prosthetic implant in breast
Cosmetic injection
Clinical Issues
Silicone can migrate along tissue planes
Lesion can appear up to several years after injection
Microscopic Pathology
Vacuolated macrophages resembling lipoblasts
Refractile contents
Arranged around “empty” cyst-like spaces of variable size
Foreign body giant cells
Fibrosis especially around breast implant
Calcification around some longstanding implants
 Hematoxylin & eosin shows fibrous reaction around a breast implant. There are clusters of univacuolated or multivacuolated cells, some containing refractile material  . |
 Hematoxylin & eosin shows a multinucleated giant cell and lymphocytic reaction around variable-sized cystic spaces in the fibrous tissue. |
TERMINOLOGY
Synonyms
Silicone granuloma
Definitions
Tissue reaction to silicone (dimethylpolysiloxane) implant, liquid silicone, or silicone gel
ETIOLOGY/PATHOGENESIS
Iatrogenic
Leakage from prosthetic implant in breast
Spontaneous
Following trauma, including compression mammography
Cosmetic injection
Face
Nose, lips
Earlobes
Abdominal wall
Genitalia
