Breast Tissue Expanders with Magnetic Ports: Clinical Experience at 1.5 T.

TitleBreast Tissue Expanders with Magnetic Ports: Clinical Experience at 1.5 T.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsThimmappa NDeepa, Prince MR, Colen KL, Ahn CY, Dutruel SP, Boddu SR, Greenspun DT, Vasile JV, Chen CM, Usal H, Rohde CH, Redstone JS, LoTempio MM, Lerman OZ, Nath AK, Allen RJ, Levine JL
JournalPlast Reconstr Surg
Volume138
Issue6
Pagination1171-1178
Date Published2016 Dec
ISSN1529-4242
KeywordsAbdomen, Adult, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Angiography, Magnets, Mammaplasty, Middle Aged, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Pelvis, Preoperative Care, Retrospective Studies, Surgical Flaps, Tissue Expansion, Tissue Expansion Devices
Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate breast tissue expanders with magnetic ports for safety in patients undergoing abdominal/pelvic magnetic resonance angiography before autologous breast reconstruction.

METHODS: Magnetic resonance angiography of the abdomen and pelvis at 1.5 T was performed in 71 patients in prone position with tissue expanders with magnetic ports labeled "MR Unsafe" from July of 2012 to May of 2014. Patients were monitored during magnetic resonance angiography for tissue expander-related symptoms, and the chest wall tissue adjacent to the tissue expander was examined for injury at the time of tissue expander removal for breast reconstruction. Retrospective review of these patients' clinical records was performed. T2-weighted fast spin echo, steady-state free precession and gadolinium-enhanced spoiled gradient echo sequences were assessed for image artifacts.

RESULTS: No patient had tissue expander or magnetic port migration during the magnetic resonance examination and none reported pain during scanning. On tissue expander removal (71 patients, 112 implants), the surgeons reported no evidence of tissue damage, and there were no operative complications at those sites of breast reconstruction.

CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance angiography of the abdomen and pelvis in patients with certain breast tissue expanders containing magnetic ports can be performed safely at 1.5 T for pre-autologous flap breast reconstruction perforator vessel mapping.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

DOI10.1097/PRS.0000000000002782
Alternate JournalPlast Reconstr Surg
PubMed ID27879583