Case Report: Breast Seroma Mimicking Breast Implants

- Breast seroma may mimick breast implants.
- ALCL should be excluded in breast implant associated pain and swelling.
- Radiology should be considered in conjunction with good clinical judgement.
- Appropriate communication with the patient is essential as a Plastic Surgeon.

Introduction Breast seroma may be caused by a variety of factors including lymphatic disruption, continuous inflammation and foreign bodies such as breast implants. In cases of breast implants associated seroma the diagnosis of Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) should be investigated.Presentation of Case A 45-year-old Caucasian woman was referred with bilateral swelling of the breasts causing tension and pain. MRI showed accumulations compatible with bilateral silicone implants. Ultrasound-guided aspiration showed no malignancy or silicone. The patient had a history of both soy- and silicone implants. Three years prior her breast implants was removed due to capsule formation. To treat the pain and rule out potential malignancy we performed capsulectomy of only the right breast, on the wish of the patient. We found brown fluid, no breast implants and histology of fluid and tissue showed no malignancy.DiscussionBreast seroma usually develops weeks after surgery such as mastectomy or axillary lymph node dissection. This patient developed a seroma through months and years after her last surgery. In cases of late seroma malignancy should be ruled out. Diagnostic statements should not solely be based on radiology, but in conjunction with clinical findings.ConclusionWe performed capsulectomy on a patient with breast seroma mimicking breast implants. We excluded the diagnosis of breast implant-associated ALCL. Radiology has limitations and should be considered in conjunction with the patient's statement and the clinical findings.