Silicone lymphadenopathy with concomitant malignant lymphoma.

Six cases of axillary lymphadenopathy induced by silicone elastomer following silastic finger joint arthroplasty have been reported; 2 cases had associated malignant lymphoma. This is the 3rd reported case of malignant lymphoma with concomitant silicone lymphadenopathy discovered 8 years after insertion of silastic finger joint arthroplasty for longstanding rheumatoid arthritis. Histology revealed a partially replaced reactive lymph node with immunoblastic lymphoma. Both sides contained single and clusters of multinucleated giant cells with silastic particles, as well as formed asteroid bodies. Malignant lymphoma is associated with rheumatoid disease, but to date, silicone particles have not been linked to malignant lymphoma.