Granulomatous reaction to silicone in axillary lymph nodes. A case report with cytologic findings

BACKGROUND: Silicone lymphadenopathy is a rare complication in patients with breast implants and is often confused with metastases from breast carcinoma. CASE: A 36-year-old female who had undergone bilateral breast augmentation six years earlier was referred for a mass in the left axilla. Fine needle aspiration showed a granulomatous reaction to birefringent material with predominance of foreign body giant cells in a lymphoid background. CONCLUSION: This report illustrates the usefulness of fine needle aspiration in axillary nodes of patients with breast implants in ruling out malignancy and diagnosing implant disruption.