Silicone lymphadenopathy: an unexpected cause of neck lumps

Abstract

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.

Silicone granuloma from ruptured breast implants as a cause of cervical lymphadenopathy

“…There is therefore potential for axillary and nodal granulomatous reaction to cause supraclavicular adenopathies. 2 In our patient, undue anxiety over diagnostic uncertainty arose from the fact that she had persistent isolated cervical lymphadenopathy with no obvious cause in the head and neck. Furthermore, she was not complaining of any chest disease.…”

“…To our knowledge, there are very few reported cases of silicone cervical lymphadenopathy in the UK. 2 This report adds to the limited pool of evidence and highlights the importance for otolaryngologists to consider silicone lymphadenopathy among the differential diagnoses of neck lumps in patients with a history of silicone breast implants.…”

Surveillance Neck Sonography After Thyroidectomy for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Pitfalls in the Diagnosis of Locally Recurrent and Metastatic Disease

“…In some cases, the sonographic appearance may be suggestive. For example, lymph nodes infiltrated with silicone appear as highly echogenic hypovascular lymph nodes with sound attenuation (Figure ), resulting in a pattern that has been described as a “snowstorm” appearance . However, often there is an overlap in appearance between lymph nodes affected by the various disease processes (Figure ) .…”

“…For example, lymph nodes infiltrated with silicone appear as highly echogenic hypovascular lymph nodes with sound attenuation (Figure 30), resulting in a pattern that has been described as a "snowstorm" appearance. 65,66 However, often there is an overlap in appearance between lymph nodes affected by the various disease processes (Figure 31). 67 Therefore, correlation with the patient's history, prior imaging, laboratory evaluation, and sometimes ultrasound-guided FNA is necessary to distinguish metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma from other etiologies of lymphadenopathy.…”

Common Poisonings Including Heavy Metal Poisoning

“…Radiological imaging and biopsy of the swelling demonstrated the presence of a silicone foreign body secondary to breast implant rupture [14]. Iron supplements are used for treating anemia, but excess ingestion of iron supplements can cause iron overload and toxicity.…”