The presence of silicone in breast capsules.

The presence of silicon-containing compounds in the capsules of women undergoing secondary surgical procedures has been identified by energy dispersion X-ray analysis. The birefringence and surface configuration qualities have been examined by polarized light-microscopic and electron-microscopic methods. The data indicate that silicone polymer (polydimethyl siloxane) is present both within cells and in the intercellular matrix of the capsule; the source of this material is the silicone gel-filled implant. A histiocytic and foreign-body giant-cell response was found to be associated with the silicon-containing compounds. It remains conjectural whether this chronic response is associated with the pain present in significant breast capsule formation.