Snowstorm sign (extracapsular breast implant rupture)
The
Noninvasive Approach to Unveil This Mimic of Breast Carcinoma Recurrence- A Case Report.. Ultrasound of the right supraclavicular node showing areas of "cloudy" high echogenicity with marked posterior enhancement ("snowstorm sign")
Snowstorm sign on breast ultrasound imaging represents the presence of free silicone droplets mixed with breast tissue giving a characteristic heterogeneous echogenic appearance with dispersion of the ultrasound beam. It is considered the most reliable sign of extracapsular breast implant rupture . A similar appearance may be seen in axillary nodes in silicone lymphadenopathy.
A similar sonographic sign has also been described when assessing complete hydatiform mole.
