Patch test reactions and breast implants

Breast reconstruction failure is an extremely rare and devastating complication which usually results in its removal.1 Hypersensitivity to various chemical compounds may be one of the reasons and there have been documented cases of contact allergy to rubber compounds.2Many different types of rubber are used in a wide variety of products, including medical devices, athletic materials and dressings. Most studies on silicone’s biocompatibility state that it is a chemically stable compound which, however, is often capable of eliciting several unpredictable benign inflammatory responses.3 Our purpose was to describe a complication of breast reconstruction, in order to improve surgical indications and patient information.