June 2014, Vol. 8, No. 6, pp. 558-562 Journal of Life Sciences, ISSN 1934-7391, USA Granulomatous Inflammatory Reaction in Breast Silicone Implants Tammaro A. 1 , Giulianelli V. 1 , Narcisi A. 1 , Abruzzese C. 1 , Cortesi G. 1 , Parisella F.R. 2 , Persechino S. 1 and Grippaudo F.R. 3 1. UOC of Dermatology University, Sapienza University of Rome, Via di Grottarossa 1039, 00189, Italy 2. Premedical School of Medicine University of Towson Maryland, 8000 York Road Towson, MD 21252-0001, USA 3. Plastic Surgery Unit, NESMOS Dept, Sapienza University of Rome, Via di Grottarossa 1039, 00189, Italy Received: August 21, 2013 / Accepted: November 25, 2013 / Published: June 30, 2014. Abstract: Introduction: breast implants have been used to correct the size and the form of a breast in post-mastectomy breast reconstruction, for correcting congenital defects and deformities or for purely aesthetic breast augmentation. Silicone breast implants were introduced in the 1960s. They are non without complications, like rupture is or silicone gel bleeding. Materials and methods: the authors present the case of 50 patients, aged 45-55, who presented to our attention after 15 (+ 5) years of the application of silicone breast implant for the appearance of lumps under the skin in the armpit area. These were palpable, painless except on palpation. The patients reported burning in the affected area, but no other symptoms. Results: considering the presence in each of them of silicone implants, and assuming a possible allergic basis, the authors performed a patch test series SIDAPA produced by F.I.R.M.A Spa, Firenze, ultrasound and MR and blood tests. In all patients the allergy test (patch test) were negative, ultrasound and MR have shown that no hearing was damaged or broken. Blood test showed no abnormalities. Discussion: comparing the authors’ study with other similar works in the literature, they noted that the reported cases of hypersensitivity type 4 silicone prosthesis was not only initially accompanied by specific symptoms such as urticaria and blistering, but mostly it was found to be a net positive patch test. The absence of urticaria, the low values of IgE and total negativity of patch test confirmed the purely inflammatory nature of the lesions in our patients. Key words: Silicone breast implant; inflammation; siliconoma; patch test. 1. Introduction Breast implants have been used, since the late nineteenth century, to correct the size and the form of a breast in post-mastectomy breast reconstruction, for correcting congenital defects and deformities or for purely aesthetic breast augmentation. Silicone breast implants were introduced in the 1960s and since then many different devices were introduced in the market, differing in outer silicone shell manufacture (single lumen, double lumen, smooth or textured) and in inner silicone gel properties [1]. Corresponding author: Tammaro Antonella, Ph.D., research fields: Dermatology and Allergology. E-mail: tammaroantonella@gmail.com. Silicone implants procedure are non without complications, and among them, breast implant rupture is reported with a frequency up to 65% at 10 years. Silicone gel bleeding has also been reported with an incidence of 7.2 % [2]. After a breast implant rupture, silicone can migrate out of the perimplant capsule and has been reported in the regional lymphnodes but as well within the breast tissue, in the contralateral lymphnodes or in other body tissues as well [3]. Patients with ruptured implants often complain of rushes, pruritus, fatigue and immunological pathologies. The aim of this study is to ascertain a possible role of allergy in patients with breast implants ruptured or not. D DAVID PUBLISHING