Silicone Lymphadenopathy : Clinical & Gross

Comments:
Silicone Lymphadenopathy - Clinical Features: In a patient who has undergone breast reconstruction (with silicone implant) following mastectomy, silicone lymphadenopathy presents with axillary lymph node enlargement. It may clinically mimic metastases from breast cancer and an excisional biopsy is usually performed. Intramammary lymph nodes may become involved and produce changes mimicking breast carcinoma on mammography. Simultaneous metastases as well as silicone lymphadenopathy sometimes coexist within the same node.

Gross Pathology: The involved lymph nodes are enlarged and firmer than usual. The cut surface may have a yellow, waxy appearance. The gross appearance may be altered by the simultaneous presence of metastases or complications such as lymphoma.

Image courtesy of: Pascual Meseguer (@histopatolomon); used with permission.