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Radiation-induced capsule tissue reactions around textured breast implants in a rat model.

Eltze E, Schäfer U, Bettendorf O, Rody A, Herchenröder F, Chiwritsch T, Jackisch C, Pfleiderer B

Institute of Pathology, University of Muenster, Domagkstr. 17, 48149 Muenster FRG, Germany.

Capsule fibrosis and other complications around various filled breast implants were evaluated in a rat radiation model after 12 months of implantation. Model implants, one per rat, were implanted subcutaneously. One month after subcutaneous implantation, high voltage radiation followed one half each group. A higher rate of capsule fibrosis occurred in radiated animals. Malignant tumors at the implantation site developed in 40% of radiated and 24% of non-radiated animals, with a much higher rate of mitosis in the radiated group (Mann-Whitney, P=0.008). The presence of an implant is a cofactor for tumor development in rats (chi(2)-test, chi(2)=6.927; P=0.008) as well as radiation, since none of the control animals developed tumors. Applied to humans, capsule contracture (fibrosis) is a common complication of radiation, while development of radiation-induced sarcoma is a rare complication after postoperative radiotherapy by all account. Still further long-term follow-up human studies are necessary.

Published 12 June 2006 in Breast, 15(3): 331-8.
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