In Asia, mammography following the injection of foreign materials into the breasts for cosmetic augmentation is frequently seen and diagnosis based on the typical radiologic findings is straightforward. We report the unusual radiologic findings in two patients with foreign body granulomas caused by injected foreign materials and discovered incidentally during screening work up. The mammographic findings were bilateral, hyperdense, spiculated masses, with occasional microcalcification, and at sonography, markedly hypoechoic, spiculated solid masses, located near the pectoralis muscle and partly extending into it, were observed. These radiologic findings mimicked malignancy.
Breast Neoplasms/radiography ; Case Report ; Cholesterol ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Esthetics ; Female ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body/etiology/*radiography/*ultrasonography ; Human ; Injections/adverse effects ; Mammography ; Middle Age ; Paraffin

Although high resolution ultrasonography (US) is helpful in the differentiation of suture granulomas from recurrent thyroid cancer in most cases, a definite diagnosis cannot always be made. We report a case that mimicked recurrent thyroid cancer on US and 2-[fluorine-18] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET), but diagnosis of a suture granuloma was confirmed by a US-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). In order to avoid unnecessary operations, the differential diagnosis between postoperative suture granulomas and recurrent cancer is important.
Thyroidectomy/*adverse effects ; Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Sutures/*adverse effects ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Humans ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body/*diagnosis/etiology/ultrasonography ; Female ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Adult

PURPOSE: Recently, several clinicians have reported the advantages of simplicity and cosmetic satisfaction of absorbable mesh insertion. However, there is insufficient evidence regardint its long-term outcomes. We have investigated the surgical complications and postoperative examination from the oncologic viewpoint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 2008 to March 2009, 34 breast cancer patients underwent curative surgery with absorbable mesh insertion in Samsung Medical Center. Patient characteristics and follow up results including complications, clinical and radiological findings were retrospectively investigated. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 50.1+/-8.9 years old (range 31-82) with a mean tumor size of 3+/-1.8 cm (range 0.8-10.5), and the excised breast tissue showed a mean volume of 156.1+/-99.8 mL (range 27-550). Over the median follow-up period of 18+/-4.6 months (range 3-25), mesh associated complications, including severe pain or discomfort, edema, and recurrent fluid collection, occurred in nine patients (26.5%). In three cases (8.8%), recurrent mastitis resulted in mesh removal or surgical intervention. In the postoperative radiologic survey, the most common finding was fluid collection, which occurred in five patients (16.1%), including one case with organizing hematoma. Fat necrosis and microcalcifications were found in three patients (9.7%). CONCLUSION: Absorbable mesh insertion has been established as a technically feasible, time-saving procedure after breast excision. However, the follow-up results showed some noticeable side effects and the oncologic safety of the procedure is unconfirmed. Therefore, we suggest that mesh insertion should be considered only in select cases and should be followed-up carefully.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Edema/etiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body/etiology/ultrasonography ; Humans ; Mammaplasty/adverse effects/methods ; Mastectomy, Segmental/adverse effects/*methods ; Mastitis/etiology ; Middle Aged ; Pain/etiology ; Postoperative Complications/etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; *Surgical Mesh/adverse effects