ABSTRACT

Breast augmentation for cosmetic purposes has been performed on large numbers of women, particularly in the USA, while breast reconstruction is increasingly offered to women requiring surgery for breast cancer. Although there is no evidence to link implants with an increased risk of autoimmune disease (Janowsky et al 2000) or breast cancer, women remain concerned about the possibility of implant rupture. MRI has emerged as the imaging modality of choice for assessment of implant integrity. The presence of an implant does not impair the ability of MRI to assess surrounding tissue, including the chest wall; therefore, the technique is frequently applied to reconstructed or augmented breasts when symptoms arise.