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Abstract #3456

Breast Tissue Expanders with Magnetic Ports: In Vitro Testing and Clinical Experience at 1.5-Tesla

Nanda Deepa Thimmappa1, Frank G. Shellock2, Cristen Giangarra3, Christina Y. Ahn4, Martin R. Prince1, Joshua L. Levine5

1Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States; 2Radiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; 3University College of Washington University, Saint Louis, MO, United States; 4NYC Breast Reconstruction Center, New York, NY, United States; 5Plastic Surgery, The Center for the Advancement of Breast Reconstruction at NYEE, New York, NY, United States


MR safety of tissue expanders with magnetic ports implanted following mastectomy for breast cancer is controversial yet these patients often require MRI/MRA examinations while the expander is present. Based on in vitro and clinical testing in 16 patients, we found these implants create substantial artifact but no migration, local heating or other damage.