Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Linguine sign in musculoskeletal imaging: calf silicone implant rupture

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Skeletal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Imaging findings of breast silicone implant rupture are well described in the literature. On MRI, the linguine sign indicates intracapsular rupture, while the presence of silicone particles outside the fibrous capsule indicates extracapsular rupture. The linguine sign is described as the thin, wavy hypodense wall of the implant within the hyperintense silicone on T2-weighted images indicative of rupture of the implant within the naturally formed fibrous capsule. Hyperintense T2 signal outside of the fibrous capsule is indicative of an extracapsular rupture with silicone granuloma formation. We present a rare case of a patient with a silicone calf implant rupture and discuss the MRI findings associated with this condition.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  1. Glicenstein J. Correction of the amyotrophies of the limbs with silicone prosthesis inclusion. Rev Bras Cir. 1979;69:117.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Carlsen LN. Calf augmentation—a preliminary report. Ann Plast Surg. 1979;2(6):508.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Pereira LH, Nicaretta B, Sterodimas A. Bilateral calf augmentation for aesthetic purposes. Aesth Plast Surg. 2012;36(2):295–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Niechajev I. Calf augmentation and restoration. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2005;116(1):295–305.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. De la Peña-Salcedo JA, Soto-Miranda MA, Lopez-Salguero JF. Calf implants: a 25-year experience and an anatomical review. Aesth Plast Surg. 2012;36(2):261–70.

  6. Middleton MS. MR evaluation of breast implants. Radiol Clin N Am. 2014;52(3):591–608.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Safvi A. Linguine sign. Radiology. 2000;216(3):838–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Steinbach BG, Hardt NS, Abbitt PL, Lanier L, Caffee HH. Breast implants, common complications, and concurrent breast disease. Radiographics. 1993;13(1):95–118.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Juanpere S, Perez E, Huc O, et al. Imaging of breast implants—a pictorial review. Insights Imaging. 2011;2(6):653–70.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Soo MS, Kornguth PJ, Walsh R, et al. Intracapsular implant rupture: MR findings of incomplete shell collapse. J Magn Reson Imaging. 1997;7:724–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflicts of interest

No conflicts of interest.

Disclosures

Drs Thomas and Walker are consultants for Medical Metrics.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, H066, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, P.O. Box 850, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA

    Dennis Duryea, Jonelle Petscavage-Thomas & Eric A. Walker

  2. Department of Pathology, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, P.O. Box 850, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA

    Elizabeth E. Frauenhoffer

  3. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA

    Eric A. Walker

Authors
  1. Dennis Duryea
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jonelle Petscavage-Thomas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Elizabeth E. Frauenhoffer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eric A. Walker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dennis Duryea.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Duryea, D., Petscavage-Thomas, J., Frauenhoffer, E.E. et al. Linguine sign in musculoskeletal imaging: calf silicone implant rupture. Skeletal Radiol 44, 1157–1160 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-014-2091-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-014-2091-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation