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Case Reports
. 2023 Nov 13:23:e70.
eCollection 2023.

Breast Paraffinoma: A Case Report of 20-Year-Old Mineral Oil Injection in a Male Patient

Bilal Koussayer  1 , Sarah Moffitt  1 , Meredith G Moore  2 , Amra Kuc  2 , Jake Laun  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Breast Paraffinoma: A Case Report of 20-Year-Old Mineral Oil Injection in a Male Patient

Bilal Koussayer et al. Eplasty. .

Abstract

Background: Mineral oil injection represents a dated practice of rapid and inexpensive breast augmentation. After a latency period, surrounding tissue becomes inflamed and fibrotic. Breast paraffinoma is well-documented in women; however, only 3 cases of such masses in male patients exist in the literature.

Methods: We present a case of paraffinoma in a 63-year-old man from Puerto Rico who, desiring breasts, serially injected mineral oil into each breast daily for 13 years. Conservative management was initially attempted due to cardiac comorbidities and insurance authorization issues. The patient ultimately developed erosive wounds and therefore underwent excision of the bilateral breast masses as an en bloc specimen weighing 2.17 kg.

Results: Pathology indicated sclerosing lipogranulomatosis (paraffinoma). The quality of the wounds remaining warranted negative pressure wound therapy with serial debridement. The patient went on to successful reconstruction with a reverse abdominoplasty preserving periumbilical and intercostal perforators.

Conclusions: Plastic surgeons must educate patients against using exogenous injected materials for augmentation of the breasts, penis, or buttocks. Although uncommon in the US, certain populations like body builders and foreign immigrants are at higher risk for current or prior injection practices. Reverse abdominoplasty is a viable reconstructive modality for the large resulting defect.

Keywords: Breast Paraffinoma; Complications; Mineral Oil Injections.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Progression of breast paraffinoma. (A) Initial presentation; (B) 2 years later; (C) 9 years later.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Side view of breast paraffinoma at 9-year follow-up.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Emergency department presentation with cellulitis. (A) Gross examination; (B) computed tomography showing calcification of the injected mineral oil.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Excised breast paraffinoma mass.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Intraoperative photos. (A) Initial excision with indocyanine green angiography; (B) reverse abdominoplasty closure.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Postoperative outcome 3 months later. (A) Left; (B) anterior; (C) right.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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