A 44-year-old woman with silicone implants undergoes breast MRI. The implant shell is collapsed with multiple wavy hypointense lines floating within the silicone gel, while the fibrous capsule around the implant remains intact. Which diagnosis and sign are described?
- A Extracapsular rupture, snowstorm appearance
- B Intracapsular rupture, teardrop sign
- C Intracapsular rupture, linguine sign ✓
- D Capsular contracture, radial fold
Correct answer: C. Intracapsular rupture, linguine sign
Explanation
Collapse of the implant shell producing wavy hypointense lines within contained gel is the linguine sign of intracapsular rupture; the intact fibrous capsule confines the silicone. Extracapsular rupture shows free silicone outside the fibrous capsule, classically the snowstorm pattern on ultrasound, so it is excluded here by the intact capsule. Radial folds are normal infoldings of an intact shell and do not show shell collapse.
Reference: Kopans, Breast Imaging, 3rd ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.