A ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheter wrapped around a right mammary prosthesis forming a pseudocyst

Breast cerebrospinal fluid pseudocysts are a rare complication of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting. It is very unusual for the peritoneal catheter of a shunt to become wrapped around a prosthesis a previously augmented breast. Three previously reported patients developed an enlarging breast lump and were diagnosed with shunt migration around the prosthesis. Our patient underwent bilateral breast augmentation and subsequently a VP shunt. We observed on frequent follow-up chest X-rays performed for pneumonia and mechanical ventilation that the peritoneal catheter had gradually wrapped around her prosthesis. She developed a progressively enlarging breast lump which resolved with drainage of the cerebrospinal fluid collection and revision of the VP shunt. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.