Missed Breast Cancer in Two Patients with Prepectoral Silicone Gel Breast Implants following Implant Displacement Mammography

Two patients with prepectoral silicone gel breast implants and class IV capsular contractures presented at explantation with incidental breast carcinomas, which had been missed following implant displacement mammography. In both patients, the radiologists had commented that imaging was difficult because of the presence of the implants and their associated capsular contractures. Both patients had metastases – one had involvement of multiple axillary lymph nodes and the other had widespread metastases to the liver and to multiple skeletal sites. The cases reinforce the findings that breast implants can mask the early detection of breast carcinoma.