Yeungnam Univ J Med.  2004 Dec;21(2):215-223.

Acute Pulmonary Embolism by Silicone Injection: Radiologic Findings

• Lee JK

Abstract

Silicone is widely used for medical purposes in breast augmentation and other cosmetic procedures. Illegal injections of silicone in human beings might have adverse effects and one of the serious problems is a silicone embolism. We experienced five cases of unusual respiratory difficulties after an injection of liquid silicone in the breast, vagina, uterus, and hip. They were all young adult females, who were previously healthy. One of them died after the injection. The three remaining patients were admitted because of dyspnea, coughing, chest discomfort and bilateral pulmonary infiltration after the silicone injection. A transbronchial lung biopsy and autopsy disclosed many oil like materials filling the alveolar septal capillaries. Three patients underwent a computed tomogram (CT), which revealed multifocal airspace consolidations at the peripheral and non-dependent portions of both lungs, which is a different finding from other thromboembolisms. Lung scans of the disclosed abnormalities were compatible with silicone induced pulmonary embolism.

Keyword

Silicone; Pulmonary embolism; Acute respiratory distress syndrome

MeSH Terms

Autopsy
Biopsy
Breast
Capillaries
Cough
Dyspnea
Embolism
Female
Hip
Humans
Lung
Pulmonary Embolism*
Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult
Silicones*
Thorax
Thromboembolism
Uterus
Vagina
Young Adult
Silicones