Injectable facial fillers: imaging features, complications, and diagnostic pitfalls at MRI and PET CT
نویسندگان
چکیده
Injectable fillers are widely used for facial rejuvenation, correction of disabling volumetric fat loss in HIV-associated facial lipoatrophy, Romberg disease, and post-traumatic facial disfiguring. The purpose of this article is to acquaint the reader with the anatomy of facial fat compartments, as well as with the properties and key imaging features of commonly used facial fillers, filler-related complications, interpretation pitfalls, and dermatologic conditions mimicking filler-related complications. The distribution of facial fillers is characteristic and depends on the anatomy of the superficial fat compartments. Silicone has signature MRI features, calcium hydroxyapatite has characteristic calcifications, whereas other injectable fillers have overlapping imaging features. Most fillers (hyaluronic acid, collagen, and polyalkylimide-polyacrylamide hydrogels) have signal intensity patterns compatible with high water content. On PET-CT, most fillers show physiologic high FDG uptake, which should not be confounded with pathology. Abscess, cellulitis, non-inflammatory nodules, and foreign body granulomas are the most common filler-related complications, and imaging can help in the differential diagnosis. Diffusion weighted imaging helps in detecting a malignant lesion masked by injected facial fillers. Awareness of imaging features of facial fillers and their complications helps to avoid misinterpretation of MRI, and PET-CT scans and facilitates therapeutic decisions in unclear clinical cases. KEY POINTS • Facial fillers are common incidental findings on MRI and PET-CT scans. • They have a characteristic appearance and typical anatomic distribution • Although considered as safe, facial filler injections are associated with several complications • As they may mask malignancy, knowledge of typical imaging features is mandatory. • MRI is a problem-solving tool for unclear cases.
منابع مشابه
Dual-time-point FDG-PET/CT Imaging of Temporal Bone Chondroblastoma: A Report of Two Cases
Temporal bone chondroblastoma is an extremely rare benign bone tumor. We encountered two cases showing similar imaging findings on computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and dual-time-point 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT. In both cases, CT images revealed temporal bone defects and sclerotic changes around the tumor. Most parts of the ...
متن کاملDiagnostic efficiency of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT as compared to 99mTc-Octreotide SPECT/CT and conventional morphologic modalities in neuroendocrine tumors
Objective(s): In view of somatostatin receptor (SSR) expression on cell membranes of the majority of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), functional imaging exploiting analogs of SSR alongside the anatomical imaging is the mainstay of this diagnostic modality. In this prospective study, we assessed and directly compared the diagnostic parameters of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT and 99...
متن کاملImaging of facial fillers: additional insights.
We appreciate the interest that readers have expressed in our article “Imaging Features of Midface Injectable Fillers and Associated Complications,” and we are pleased to be regarded as pioneers in the field. However, we would like to clarify a few points and share additional insights on the subject. Our review article certainly shows the utility of CT and MR imaging for depicting many of the e...
متن کاملMRI in detecting facial cosmetic injectable fillers
BACKGROUND Despite being considered a non-invasive procedure, injections can cause adverse outcomes including infections, overfilling, asymmetry, foreign body granulomas, and reactions that lead to scarring. Complications may be associated with the procedure itself, the physician's technique, and/or the type of agent injected. In these instances, it is important to be able locate and identify t...
متن کاملImaging features of midface injectable fillers and associated complications.
Injectable fillers are increasingly used for midface augmentation, which can be performed for facial rejuvenation and treatment of HIV facial lipoatrophy. A variety of temporary and permanent filler agents has been developed, including calcium hydroxylapatite, collagen, liquid silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene, hyaluronic acid, poly-l-lactic acid, and polyacrylamide gel. Facial fillers are some...
متن کامل