[Destructive paraffinoma of the breast and thoracic wall caused by paraffin injection for mammary increase. Apropos of 3 cases with review of the literature]

Abstract

The injection of a high viscosity fluids into the tissues for cosmetic body contouring has been practised in the last four decades in the East and South-East of Asia. The injection of liquid paraffin for mammary augmentation was widely practised by surgeons, physician and even non medical people. Unfortunately, most of these cases ended by having different varieties of paraffinoma as a complication of a foreign body reaction. We report three cases of a destructive form of these paraffinomas ulcerating into both breasts and the anterior chest wall. One case was treated by bilateral mastectomy, radical excision of the anterior chest wall soft tissue and reconstruction by a vertical Rectus Abdominus Myocutaneous Flap. The second case had bilateral mastectomy and followed up for facial paraffinomas. The third case was just followed for up regular wound care as surgery was not indicated due to advanced age, poor general condition and the family request.