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Silicone lymphadenopathy: an unexpected cause of neck lumps

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 June 2012

E Omakobia ,
G Porter ,
S Armstrong  and
K Denton
E Omakobia*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK
G Porter
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK
S Armstrong
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK
K Denton
Affiliation:
Department of Histopathology, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Eugene Omakobia, ENT Clinical Fellow, ENT Department, Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK Fax: +44 (0)117 323 5850 E-mail: eugeneomakobia@doctors.org.uk
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Abstract

Objective:

To report a rare case of silicone lymphadenopathy solely affecting the left supraclavicular lymph nodes.

Case report:

Our patient presented with a painless swelling in the left supraclavicular region. Notably, she had previously undergone cosmetic breast augmentation using silicone-containing implants. Radiological imaging and subsequent excisional biopsy of the swelling produced findings consistent with a silicone foreign body reaction secondary to bilateral breast implant rupture.

Conclusion:

Silicone lymphadenopathy following breast augmentation primarily affects the axillary nodes. Supraclavicular lymph node involvement is unusual. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the English language literature of silicone lymphadenopathy manifesting solely in the supraclavicular lymph nodes. Although the need to exclude malignancy in such cases is of the utmost importance, silicone lymphadenopathy should also be considered in the differential diagnosis. Fine needle aspiration cytology is a useful initial investigation, which may be followed up by excisional biopsy and histological analysis for further confirmatory diagnostic information.

Keywords

Breast ImplantsMammoplastySiliconeLymphadenopathyNeck
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 126 , Issue 9 , September 2012 , pp. 970 - 973
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2012

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