The Drug-Induced Respiratory Disease Website and App

XLVI.m

XLVI - Pulmonary vasculopathy

Silicone pulmonary embolism (SE) - SE syndrome

Last update 17/06/2026

A life-threatening syndrome that follows subcutaneous or i.v. injection of fluid silicone. The clinical presentation includes pulmonary infiltrates, ALI/ARDS, DAH, and CNS involvement when silicone accesses the brain (the 'silicone embolism syndrome or SES). See also under VIg, VIh and under 'Pathology' XVbn

Causative drugs

Frequency - Incidence

Incidence of respiratory adverse event(s) due to the specific drug as assessed by number of reported/published cases in the literature. Red digits in stars indicate: 0 = Very rare, questionable signal · 1 = < 10 cases · 2 = 10-50 cases · 3 = 50–100 cases · 4 = 100-200 cases · 5 = >200 cases

Silicone, fluid