Scleroderma after cosmetic surgery: four cases of human adjuvant disease.

In 9 cases of human adjuvant disease, 4 cases of scleroderma (3 progressive systemic sclerosis and 1 localized morphea) were observed. Seven to 19 years after injection of foreign substances into the breasts or nose for cosmetic purposes, some patients developed human adjuvant disease. In one case the foreign substances were removed by bilateral mastectomy with no discernible effects on the patient's clinical course. Histopathologic findings of the removed breasts demonstrated foreign body granulomas with calcification. The injected substance was identified as a mixture of liquid and solid paraffin. Human adjuvant disease might be caused by prolonged hypersensitization activated by the injected foreign materials which act as an adjuvant.