Dr. - Giant Cell Reaction (continuing discussion)

[spankyandrex]

This is a response to a question someone had in 2008 below and what I wanted to know is what if I do not have implants and I still had this?  In Dec 2009 I had a partial mast of left breast (lumpectomy) with 2 lymph nodes removed (chemo/rads/herceptin).  This last January (2011) just after I had completed treatment I found another lump so I had another lumpectomy from a pea sized lump that had grown below my lymph node original incision.  The results - a giant cell reaction.  What would cause this if I have my breast yet?  A suture that never dissolved?  It was a benign finding, but stil leaves me curious.  Thanks so much!


This discussion is related to giant cell reaction.

[spankyandrex]

WOW, thank you so much, you've made my day and YES, I do have one there!  

[SueYoung55]

Oooh... you've gotta go look at this one.. a reaction to a titanium marker which I'm sure you have!

http://www.breastpathology.info/sub-pages-iotw/2008/4.html

[SueYoung55]

Foreign body giant cell inflammation that usually is localized, and occurs 1-2 weeks after trauma, surgery or radiation

That tidbit came from: http://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/breastforeignbodyreaction.html

[spankyandrex]

Thank you so much.

[SueYoung55]

I have no knowledge of this but I pulled some articles for you off the net.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2526983/

http://www.diagnosticpathology.org/content/3/1/33

And going back and reading wherria's original post she didn't mention having implants. In my pathology report from my mastectomy one week ago, the following is listed in the diagnosis section, under the heading "Breast, left, completion mastectomy and axillary contents: "prior biopsy cavity with extensive fat necrosis and foreign body giant cell reaction."  What does "foreign body giant cell reaction" mean? Thank you.

The doctor at cleveland clinic said it could be a foreign object LIKE an implant, but not an implant exclusively.

[spankyandrex]

No one?  Please.....does anyone know why I would have Foreign body giant cells when I never had implants - I have my own breasts yet.  Thanks.

[spankyandrex]

here is the original post -sorry.

Dear wherria:  A foreign-body giant cell is a collection of fused macrophages (giant cell) which are generated in response to the presence of a large foreign body.  This is a benign finding.  It is very common in people who have implants.