Sentinel lymph node biopsy in a patient with ruptured poly implant prothese (PIP) implants: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Around 400,000 silicone gel breast implants produced by the French company poly implant prothese (PIP) were used worldwide. Following revelations that the company were using non- medical grade silicone for the production of their implants there has been growing concern over the increased rupture rate of these implants and the implications this may have on patients. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report the case of a 57-year old lady with ruptured bilateral cosmetic PIP breast implants in whom a right breast lesion was detected on screening mammograms. Biopsies demonstrated a grade 1 tubular carcinoma. Histology from the sentinel lymph node biopsy showed axillary silicone granulomas but no evidence of metastatic disease. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case to describe SLNB in the presence of ruptured PIP implants, although SLNB in ruptured non-PIP implants has been previously described. CONCLUSION: We conclude that SLNB can be utilised even in the context of concurrent PIP implant rupture and the presence of silicone granulomas in the axillary lymph nodes.