AUTHOR=Franco Coral , Moskovitz Anner , Weinstein Iuliana , Kwartin Samuel , Wolf Yoram 

TITLE=Long Term Rigid Retained Foreign Object After Breast Augmentation: A Case Report and Literature Review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Surgery

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/surgery/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2021.725273

DOI=10.3389/fsurg.2021.725273

ISSN=2296-875X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Introduction:</bold> Retained foreign object (RFO) is a rare iatrogenic complication. This article presents an unprecedented case of a plastic RFO post-augmentation mammoplasty.</p><p><bold>Case Presentation:</bold> We present the case of a 32-year-old woman, 8 years after breast augmentation surgery, with a 4 year history of a palpable migrating mass in the superior lateral quadrant of her right breast with fluctuating levels of pain. Imaging studies included mammography tests, sonographic examinations, a Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan, and a Computed Tomography scan, all of which did not identify any pathological findings. Exploratory surgery discovered a syringe-tip cover in the implant pocket.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Persistent complaints and symptoms accompanied by non-specific imaging studies warrant escalation of diagnostic methods, in line with a high awareness for the possibility of an RFO. As pocket lavage is a common practice in various surgeries, this report can serve as a valuable reminder for surgical teams to account for syringe covers and other disposable items at the end of all operations.</p>