ARS:

An acronym created for the purposes of the MDL-926 and Dow Corning Settlements.  ARS stands for Atypical Rheumatic Syndrome. For the Revised Settlement definition and criteria, click here.  For the Dow Corning Settlement criteria, click here.

Arthritis: 

Non-erosive arthritis involving two or more peripheral joints, characterized by tenderness, swelling, or effusion. [Note: erosive arthritis is an exclusion to the settlement]

Capsule: 

Refers to scar tissue, and very often calcium deposits that eventually surround the implant in the body.  Some believe it to be the body's attempt to isolate the unwanted foreign invader and protect itself.

Capsular Contracture: 

A common phenomenon where the implant pocket contracts and squeezes the inner implant.  The remedy for this is usually a closed capsulectomy, and if that fails, an open capsulectomy.  It is not fully known why capsular contracture occurs.

Closed Capsulectomy: 
A non-surgical procedure where the breast is squeezed by the doctor in an attempt to break the capsule and soften the hardened breast.

Discoid Rash: 

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is characterized by a skin rash only. It occurs in about 20% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The lesions are patchy, crusty, sharply defined skin plaques that may scar. These lesions are usually seen on the face or other sun-exposed areas. DLE may cause patchy, bald areas on the scalp and hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation in older lesions. Biopsy of a lesion will usually confirm the diagnosis. Topical and intralesional corticosteroids are usually effective for localized lesions; antimalarial drugs may be needed for more generalized lesions. DLE only rarely progresses to systemic lupus erythematosus.  Erthematous raised patches with adherent keratotic scaling and follicular plugging; atrophic scarring may occur in older lesions. The round or disk shaped (discoid) rash of lupus produces red, raised patches with scales. The pores (hair follicles) may be plugged. Click here to see a picture of one.

Eminence: 

A circumscribed area raised above the general level of the surrounding surface, particularly on a bone surface.

Envelope:

Refers to the implants "elastomer" outer membrane or shell.

Eryethma: 

Redness due to capillary dilation (a flush).

Exotropia: 

That type of strabismus in which the visual axes diverge, may be paralytic or concomitant, monocular or alternating, constant or intermittent.

Explantation: 

The removal of a silicone implant from the body, usually without reinsertion of another new implant.

Explantation benefits:

Benefits paid by the implant manufacturer to assist claimants in having their implants removed.  To learn more about Dow-Corning explant benefits, click here.

Fixed Benefits:

Benefits paid out in a one time, fixed amount, as opposed to long-term benefits. Fixed benefits are available only to "Current" claimants under the
MDL-926 Settlement.   Not applicable to the Dow Settlement, as all claimants are still considered "Current."

Gel bleed: 

A characteristic of silicone gel-filled implants where the silicone gel passes through the permeable outer silicone elastomer shell. This results in a sticky silicone residue on the exterior of the implant.  Virtually all silicone-filled breast implants bleed, even if only minimally.  This does not count as rupture.

GCTS:      

An acronym created for the purposes of the MDL-926 and Dow-Corning Settlements.  GCTS stands for "General Connective Tissue Symptoms".  For the Revised Settlement definition and criteria, click here. For the Dow Corning definition and criteria, click here.

Hematologic disorder:    
 
(a). Hemolytic anemia-with reticulocytosis, or
(b). Leukopenia-less than 4,000/mm total on two or more occasions, or
(c). Lymphopenia-less than 1,500/mm in the absence of offending drugs.
(d). Thrombocytopenia- less than 100,000/mm in the absence of offending drugs.

Immunological disorder: 

(a). Positive LE cell preparation, or
(b). Anti-DNA; antibody to native DNA in abnormal titer, or
(c). Anti-Sm: presence of antibody to Sm nuclear antigen, or
(d). False positive serologic test for syphilis known to be positive for at least 6 months and confirmed by Treponema pallidum immobilazation or
       florescent treponemal antibody absorption test. 

Implant: 

Refers to either silicone or saline-filled implant. Note: All breast implants contain a silicone outer membrane or "shell".

Implantation: 

The insertion of an implant into the body.

Long-term Benefits:

Benefits available to "Current","Other",  or "Late" claimants.  These benefits are available to women in the settlement who meet disease criteria during the 15 year MDL-926 settlement term.  (before it ends in 2010) 

Lumen: 

Refers to an inner, smaller implant inside the primary implant, with the inner being surrounded with free silicone or saline inside the primary implants silicone shell.  This is considered a bi-lumen implant.  Tri-lumens have also been used. 

Lupus: 

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease which causes inflammation of various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood and kidneys. The body's immune system normally makes proteins called antibodies to protect the body against viruses, bacteria and other foreign materials. These foreign materials are called antigens. In an autoimmune disorder such as lupus, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between foreign substances (antigens) and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against "self." These antibodies, called "auto-antibodies," react with the "self" antigens to form immune complexes. The immune complexes build up in the tissue and can cause inflammation, injury to tissues, and pain. Lupus affects women eight to ten times more frequently than men and often first appears in women of childbearing years (ages 18 to 45). Women of color (African-American, Native American, Asian and Hispanic) are affected more often than Caucasian women.

For more information on this illness and a full list of criteria as it pertains to the Revised Settlement, click here.  For more information on this illness and a full list of criteria as it pertains to the Dow Corning Settlement, click here.      

Malar: 

Relating to the mala, the cheek or cheek bones.

Malar rash: 

An immune related rash characterized by fixed erythema, flat or raised, over the malar eminences, tending to spare the nasolabial folds. 

Nasolabial: 

Relating to the nose and upper lip. ( The creases at the base of the nose/upper lip and along side the mouth) 

Neurologic disorder: 

Seizures-in the absence of offending drugs or known metabolic derangements, e.g., uremia, ketoacidosis, or electrolyte imbalance.

Open capsulectomy:

A surgical procedure where the hardened "capsule"  is removed from the body.  This is usually done when an implant(s) are replaced or removed permanently from the body.

Oral ulcers: 

Oral or nasopharyngeal ulceration, usually painless, observed by a physician.

Permeable: 

Means that particles are able to pass through it, these particles being minute in size.

Photosensitivity: 

Abnormal sensitivity to light, especially in the eyes.  For example, light may irritate the eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea or, in excess, the retina; when scattered by a cataractous lens light may produce glare; it can produce a migraine headache or temporary exotropia.

Renal disorder:   

(a) persistent proteinuria greater than 0.5 grams per day or greater than 3+ if quantitation not performed , or
(b) Cellular casts-may be red cell, hemoglobin, granular, tubular, or mixed.  

Replacement: 

For settlement purposes, refers to the replacement of one or more implants.

Rupture: 

For settlement purposes, this means the failure of the elastomer envelope(s) surrounding a silicone-gel breast implant to contain the gel (resulting in contact of the gel with the body), not solely as a result of "gel bleed", but due to a tear or other opening in the envelope after implantation and prior to the explantation procedure. Note: An implant that is accidentally ruptured by the explanting surgeon during removal does not count for rupture benefits.

Rupture requirements: 

To be eligible to receive Dow rupture benefits, a claimant must:
 

Scleroderma:

Thickening and induration of the skin caused by new callogen formation , with atrophy of pilo-sebaceous follocles.  For more information and a full list of settlement criteria for this illness as it pertains to the settlements, visit our scleroderma webpage by clicking here.  For a full list of settlement criteria for this illness as it pertains to the Dow Corning Settlement, click here.

Serositis:  

(a) Pleuritis-convincing history of pleuritis pain or rub heard by a physician or evidence of pleural effusion, or
(b) Pericarditis-documented by ECG or rub or evidence of pericardial effusion.

 Shell:
 
Refers to the elastomer shell or outer silicone membrane of an implant.

          
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