Ultrasonographic Features of Complications Associated with Injectable Fillers in the Cervicofacial Region

• Main Authors: Sun Huh, Hyun Sook Hong, Eun Seok Ko, Sun Hye Jeong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Korean Society of Radiology 2017-10-01
• Series: 대한영상의학회지
• Subjects: ultrasonography; foreign bodies; granuloma
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2017.77.4.222
• ISSN: 1738-2637; 2288-2928

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ultrasonographic (US) features of complications associated with injectable fillers in the cervicofacial region. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was approved by our Institutional Review Board. Thirty-nine patients (37 females and 2 males; mean age: 52 years; age range: 26–83 years), both symptomatic (n = 32) and asymptomatic (n = 7), who underwent cosmetic procedures in the cervicofacial area and US, were included. Results: All of the cases were classified into five types based on major US features, including (the most common feature) diffuse high echogenicity with posterior snow storming (n = 17, 39%). The other types included a hypoechoic nodule with high echoic lines (n = 10, 23%), a round hypoechoic nodule (n = 12, 27%), a heterogeneously echogenic lesion with internal echoic dots (n = 1, 2%) and an ill-defined nonmass-like fatty lesion (n = 4, 9%). The time between cosmetic injection and evaluation was variable (range: 3 weeks–21 years). Usually, the injected material was either unknown or illegal (n = 24). Ten patients underwent pathological evaluation. Many histological types of foreign body granulomas were evident. Conclusion: Knowledge of the US features of complications associated with fillers may reduce the likelihood of misinterpreting the injected area as a true lesion, in turn decreasing unnecessary invasive procedures and costs for patients.