Ultrasound findings suggestive of capsular contracture in breast ultrasounds of the CMDLT radiology service in the period january-august 2024.

Abstract

Capsular contracture (CC) is a common complication of augmentative mammaplasty, resulting from an exaggerated inflammatory response to the implant, which causes the formation of a scar tissue capsule. This phenomenon can lead to pain, asymmetry, and rigidity in the affected breast and is associated with factors such as bacterial biofilm, previous radiotherapy, smoking, and elevated body mass index. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, ambispective clinical study that included 266 patients who underwent high-resolution ultrasound to analyze characteristics of the capsule-implant complex (CIC), such as its thickness, periprosthetic calcifications, lobulations, radial folds, intra or extracapsular rupture, and periprosthetic fluid. Results showed that the average age of the evaluated patients was 50 years, with a standard deviation of 11.22 years. 29% of patients had involvement of both breasts, 21% presented CIC thickening greater than 1.5 mm, indicating a possible CC. Additionally, calcification was observed in 5% of cases and periprosthetic fluid in 5.66%. These findings reinforce the effectiveness of ultrasound in detecting signs suggestive of CC, allowing a detailed evaluation of the CIC and other associated anomalies, providing a non-invasive and accessible diagnostic resource. This research contributes to the field of imaging in Venezuela and supports the implementation of ultrasound in the monitoring of patients with augmentative mammaplasty, facilitating clinical decision-making and timely treatment.