Thermography after subcutaneous mastectomy and reconstruction with silicone gel prosthesis: a pilot study

Patients with subcutaneously placed silicone gel prostheses, for reconstruction after subcutaneous mastectomies, often complain of cold breasts as well as of slow regaining of warmth after cooling. We have used thermography in 7 such women and in 7 healthy women of the same age group as controls. Thermography has also been used in 3 women after repositioning of the subcutaneously placed prostheses to a submuscular position in order to study any possible changes in temperature. In 2 cases thermography also was found to aid in the diagnosis of a suspected subcutaneous displacement of a submuscular prosthesis; the technique has an advantage over mammographic examination, since thermography is a simple, less expensive, and safer method.