Mammographic appearance of postoperative augmentation mammoplasty with hydrogel

Objective: To study the clinical manifestations and mamographic appearance of post- operative augmentation mammoplasty with hydrogel injection. Methods: Physical examination of breast and mammography were performed in 67 patients who had the history of augmentation mammoplasty with hydrogel injection. Surgery was then performed to resect hydrogel or hard nodules in 11 cases. The results of physical examination and the manifestation of mammography were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The majority of the cases had normal appearances, palpable abnormalities and hard nodules were the major sequelae. In mammographic images, hydrogel appeared as high density in 6 cases, moderate density in 57 cases, and low density in 4 cases; irregular patches and multiple masses or nodules were seen in 51 cases, homogeneous patches in 16 cases; the interface with the breast tissue was clear in 10 cases, blurred in 11 cases, and unclear in 46 cases; calcifications were detected in 7 cases. In 11 cases who underwent operations, pathological examination showed the fibrous tissues proliferated around the hydrogel, accompanying with sparsely infiltrated lymphocyte, among which, one was found with fibroadenoma, and another one with carcinoma. Conclusion: Mammography can not accurately assess the post-operative state of hydrogel after augmentation mammoplasty. In the meantime, hydrogel may influence the detection and the determination of the nature of breast nodules and masses. (authors)