Silicone breast implant pathology. Clinical data and immunologic consequences.

Silicone breast prostheses are medical devices, implanted subcutaneously or subpectorally, that are designed to replace or augment the volume occupied by breast glandular tissue. They are generally effective in creating tissue mounds, and their apparent medical benefit is primarily psychological. Recent data on immunologic phenomena associated with silicone exposure suggest to us that silicone breast implants may interact with native tissue in a way that is analogous to implantable vaccinating devices. Background information, clinical findings, and possible immunologic consequences are presented.