Identification of substances for soft tissue augmentation with pyrolysis GC–MS

A pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method has been developed to identify in excised tissue sample, filler substances used for soft tissue augmentation. Injectable filler substances are polymers like polymethylmethacrylate or silicone oil, generally used for cosmetic reasons. In many cases, often not until several years after application, the injection may result in abscess or granuloma formation. In order to identify the causes and to establish therapeutic methods, identification of the applied filler substance is of fundamental importance. To identify the filler, a small sample of tissue from the affected region is required. The sample is homogenised and dried. Without further treatment, the sample is analysed via Curie-point pyrolysis GC–MS. The filler substances can be identified unequivocally in the resulting pyrogram by their characteristic pyrolysis fragments. The analysis is rapid, reliable and cost-effective.