Article Text
Abstract
We present the case of a 53-year-old woman with silicone breast implants who underwent excision of an abdominal melanoma and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Two lymph nodes were excised; both lying in the breast parenchyma adjacent to the intact right breast capsule. The lymph node histology revealed a subcapsular melanoma deposit along with silicone lymphadenopathy in the sentinel node. This case highlights that sentinel lymph nodes can be located in alternative locations to the common lymphatic basins and, therefore, the importance of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. We also discuss subclinical breast implant rupture as a causative factor for silicone lymphadenopathy.
- malignant disease and immunosuppression
- skin
- dermatological
- skin cancer
- plastic and reconstructive surgery
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Footnotes
Contributors AP: writing of manuscript, editing, final approval. TW: photos, editing manuscript, final approval. MS: conceptualisation, editing manuscript, final approval.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.