Analysis of periprosthetic capsular tissue from women with silicone breast implants by magic-angle spinning NMR

The amount of silicone (polydimethylsiloxane [PDMS]) in capsular tissue surgically removed from women with breast implants was measured by using Si-29 and H-1 magic-angle spinning solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Twelve women having smooth surface silicone gel-filled implants, including a subject with "low-bleed" double-lumen implants, had detectable levels of PDMS ranging from 0.05 to 9.8% silicon in wet tissue (w/w). No silicon-containing compounds other than PDMS were detected. No correlation was found between the amount of PDMS measured in the capsular tissue and the length of implantation time (Pearson correlation coefficient, r = 0.22). The results showed no relationship between higher amounts of PDMS and capsular contracture (p = 0.74) or other symptoms (p = 0.53). (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.