Yonsei Med J.  2006 Oct;47(5):752-754. 10.3349/ymj.2006.47.5.752.

Peculiar Mammographic and Ultrasonographic Findings of a Retained Silastic Drain in the Breast

• Son EJ
• Oh KK
• Kim EK

• KMID: 1381260
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2006.47.5.752

Abstract

Foreign bodies, such as surgical sponges or drains, are sometimes retained after surgical procedures.1 Retention of a drain in the breast tissue postoperatively is an unusual complication. This report describes two cases of characteristic sonographic findings related to retained silastic drains following breast surgery.

Keyword

Breast radiography; foreign body

MeSH Terms

*Ultrasonography, Mammary
Silicones
Postoperative Complications/*diagnosis/radiography/ultrasonography
*Mammography
Humans
Foreign Bodies/*diagnosis/radiography/ultrasonography
Female
Drainage/*instrumentation
Dimethylpolysiloxanes
Adult

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A 44-year-old woman, who had received treatment for a breast abscess 6 months prior, complained of a painful mass in the subareolar area of the left breast. (A) Initial ultrasonogram of the subareolar area of the left breast shows an ill-defined, inhomogeneous, hypoechoic lesion with internal, free-floating debris, which is highly suggestive of an abscess cavity. (B) Follow-up ultrasonogram of a palpable mass after incision and drainage shows an ill-defined, hypoechoic lesion with internal echogenic parallel lines having a reverberation artifact, suggesting a foreign body (arrows). (C) Craniocaudal mammogram reveals a silastic drain in the left subareolar area (arrows).

• 

  Fig. 2 A 33-year-old woman with a prior history of breast excision due to a fibroadenoma presented with a palpable mass in the right breast. (A) Breast ultrasonogram reveals multiple, linear-arranged, echogenic lesions in the right subareolar area, suggesting a foreign body (arrows). (B) Mammography (mediolateral oblique view) shows the folded tubular shape of a high density drain tube (arrows).

Reference

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