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Review
. 2007 Feb 23:5:9.
doi: 10.1186/1476-7120-5-9.

Interference of breast implants with echocardiographic image acquisition and interpretation

Mohammad-Reza Movahed  1
Affiliations
Review

Interference of breast implants with echocardiographic image acquisition and interpretation

Mohammad-Reza Movahed. Cardiovasc Ultrasound. .

Abstract

Echocardiography is one of the most important diagnostic testing in cardiology. The presence of a breast implant overlying heart can cause significant impairment of the echocardiographic acoustic window. Breast implants are increasing in popularity in the USA and the Federal Drug and Food Administration (FDA) just approved silicone implants again. In this review, the impact of silicone breast implant on the echocardiographic image acquisition and interpretation is discussed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A silicone breast implant in this patient caused marked limitation of echocardiographic acoustic window and image acquisition in the parasternal long axis view obscuring left ventricular cavity and septum.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A large shadow is seen across the right and left ventricle caused by the silicone breast implant that limited the echocardiographic window in the 4 chamber view.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Similar to figure 2, a large shadow is seen across the right and left ventricle secondary to the silicone breast implant in this patient limiting echocardiographic window in the 4 chamber view.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The arrow shows a large shadow and a bright ring obscuring the subcostal acoustic window.
Figure 5
Figure 5
In order to improve the acoustic window, the parasternal long axis view was modified by the echocardiographer causing tilting of the image.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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