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Rare disease
CASE REPORT
Pulmonary fibrosis and embolism secondary to silicon implant leak
  1. Ahad Azeem1,
  2. Samreen Khuwaja1,
  3. Rukma Parthvi2 and
  4. Teekaram Persaud3
  1. 1 Internal Medicine, Forest Hills Hospital, New York, USA
  2. 2 Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, USA
  3. 3 Adult Critical Care, Forest Hills Hospital, New York, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Ahad Azeem, aazeem{at}northwell.edu

Abstract

Pulmonary fibrosis in a patient with history of ruptured silicone breast implants may present a therapeutic challenge to diagnose and treat. In this case report, we aim to discuss our experience in diagnosing a patient with chronic silicone embolism syndrome masquerading as refractory multifocal pneumonia that presented with respiratory failure. A young woman with no significant past exposure having recurrent admissions to the hospital due to fever and shortness of breath was found to have chronic silicone embolism with pneumonitis. This case report emphasis the prompt diagnosis and treatment of silicone induced fibrosis and approach to the most common side effects of breast implants.

  • mechanical ventilation
  • respiratory system
  • pneumonia (infectious disease)
  • adult intensive care

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2019-229470

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors AA wrote and edited the manuscript. SK reviewed and edited the manuscript. RP provided the radiological images. TP is the article guarantor.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Patient consent for publication Obtained.