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. 2016 Mar;4(3):433-435.
doi: 10.3892/mco.2016.731. Epub 2016 Jan 14.

Breast cancer following polyacrylamide hydrogel injection for breast augmentation: A case report

Gang Chen  1 , Yujia Wang  2 , Jin-Long Huang  1
Affiliations

Breast cancer following polyacrylamide hydrogel injection for breast augmentation: A case report

Gang Chen et al. Mol Clin Oncol. 2016 Mar.

Abstract

Polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAAG) has been used for several years as an injectable implant for augmentation mammoplasty in China. Although patients who received PAAG injections experienced a number of complications, breast cancer following PAAG injection has been reported only in two cases. In this report, we present a case of breast cancer following PAAG injection for breast augmentation. Our study demonstrated that PAAG injection may increase the risk of breast cancer development. Early-stage breast cancer detection is difficult, since the breast is covered with the indurated injected gel. Thus, PAAG injection for augmentation mammoplasty may negatively affect breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Keywords: augmentation mammoplasty; breast cancer; magnetic resonance imaging; mammography; polyacrylamide hydrogel injection; ultrasonic.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Prior to the first surgical treatment, the patient's left breast was saggy, deformed and enlarged compared with her right breast. The areolar diameter was ~4.5 cm bilaterally, and the nipple diameter was ~1 cm. No nipple discharge was observed.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Magnetic resonance imaging during the first hospitalization: Post-injection augmentation mammoplasty changes, with abnormal signal intensity in the left breast and enlarged lymph nodes in the left axilla.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Prior to the second surgical treatment: A 5-cm skin patch surrounding the left nipple appeared erythematous, mildly puffy and pitted, resembling orange peel, without ulceration or high skin temperature.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Histological examination: Stage II–III invasive breast cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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