Bilateral Silicone Granulomas Mimicking Breast Cancer Recurrence on 18F-FDG PET/CT

We report the case of a 45-year-old woman with a history of right breast reconstruction with silicone implant for breast cancer. An F-18-FDG PET/CT performed several years later revealed the presence of F-18-FDG-avid nodules at the periphery of the silicone implant, in the right internal mammary chain, and in the contralateral breast. Needle core biopsies were positive for bilateral silicone granulomas, without any sign of malignancy. This case displays intense F-18-FDG uptake in silicone granulomas affecting the contralateral breast after implant reconstruction.

Automated summary

A 45-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer underwent breast reconstruction surgery with silicone implant, and several years later, PET/CT scan revealed F-18-FDG-avid nodules in the area of the implant, in the right internal mammary chain, and in the contralateral breast. Biopsies confirmed the presence of silicone granulomas in both breasts, without any signs of malignancy. This case highlights the intense F-18-FDG uptake in silicone granulomas affecting the contralateral breast after implant reconstruction.