Foreign body granuloma formation secondary to silicone injection.

Abstract

Injectable silicone has been used extensively over the last 40 years for soft tissue augmentation. Although considered biologically inert, this material has been implicated in a variety of adverse reactions including granulomas, disfiguring nodules, and lymphedema, sometimes with latent periods of decades. Often these complications are a result of the use of industrial grade products injected by unlicensed or unskilled practitioners. Here we report a case of foreign body granuloma in the thigh secondary to silicone injection in the buttocks. Initially the patient did not disclose a cosmetic contouring procedure administered by a nonprofessional nine months earlier, making diagnosis difficult. We remind clinicians to include foreign body granulomas in the differential diagnosis of apparent cellulitis and to question patients about the use of injectable fillers.

• Authors: Elissa M Schwartzfarb, Juan Martin Hametti, Paolo Romanelli, Carlos Ricotti
• Journal: Dermatology online journal (Dermatol Online J) Vol. 14 Issue 7 Pg. 20 (Jul 15 2008) ISSN: 1087-2108 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18718204 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Letter)

Chemical References

• Silicones

Topics

• Adult
• Biopsy, Needle
• Cellulitis (chemically induced, diagnosis, pathology)
• Cosmetic Techniques (adverse effects)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Granuloma, Foreign-Body (chemically induced, diagnosis, pathology)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Injections, Intradermal
• Risk Assessment
• Severity of Illness Index
• Silicones (adverse effects, pharmacology)
• Thigh