Are Breast Implants Associated with an Increased Risk of Cancer Development in the Breast?
Published: 2024-01-18
Page: 20-25
Issue: 2024 - Volume 7 [Issue 1]
Arbaab Khan *
Department of General Surgery, Wockhardt Hospital, India.
Mutarba Altaf Khan
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Al-Adwani General Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
Jaanam Altaf Khan
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Wara Hospital, Kuwait.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Cancer is a global concern that has sparked ongoing research to understand its risk factors and causes. A recent question has emerged regarding the relationship between breast implants and cancer risk, particularly in the context of Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). This literature review aims to provide insight into this complex issue, examining existing scientific evidence and exploring potential associations. A thorough search in Pubmed, Google Scholar, ISI Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL and Scopus databases regarding study keywords including breast implant, cancer, BIA-ALCL was made. Three key articles were reviewed, revealing a significant link between breast implants, especially textured ones, and BIA-ALCL. The incidence of BIA-ALCL ranges from 1 in 2,969 women with breast implants to 1 in 355 women with textured implants after breast reconstruction. As this risk grows, the use of textured implants may decline in favour of round and smooth implants, albeit with aesthetic trade-offs. Surgeons must inform patients thoroughly, considering both risks and advantages when choosing implant types. This review underscores the importance of discussing BIA-ALCL risks during informed consent for breast implant surgery and highlights the need for global registries and further research to elucidate predisposing factors and genetic susceptibility. Despite the relatively low risk, it is crucial for all women, with or without breast implants, to continue regular cancer screenings and self-examinations, ensuring informed decision-making about their health.
Keywords: Breast implants, cancer, anaplastic large cell lymphoma
How to Cite
References
Cordeiro PG, Ghione P, Ni A, Hu Q, Ganesan N, Galasso N, Dogan A, Horwitz SM. Risk of breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) in a cohort of 3546 women prospectively followed long term after reconstruction with textured breast implants. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2020 May;73(5):841-846. DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2019.11.064
Epub 2020 Jan 20
PMID: 32008941
PMCID: PMC7247945.
Doren EL, Miranda RN, Selber JC, Garvey PB, Liu J, Medeiros LJ, Butler CE, Clemens MW. U. S. epidemiology of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017 May;139(5):1042-1050. DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000003282
PMID: 28157769
Ionescu P, Vibert F, Amé S, Mathelin C. New data on the epidemiology of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Eur J Breast Health. 2021 Oct 4;17(4):302-307. DOI: 10.4274/ejbh.galenos.2021.2021-5-6.
Erratum in: Eur J Breast Health. 2021 Dec 30;18(1):107.
PMID: 34651107
PMCID: PMC8496114
Bankhead C. Cases of breast implant-associated lymphoma continue to accumulate. Medical News; 2023.
Hu, Honghua, Jacombs, Anita, Vickery, Karen, Merten, Steven, Pennington, David, Deva, Anand. Chronic biofilm infection in breast implants is associated with an increased t-cell lymphocytic infiltrate. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.
10.1097/PRS.0000000000000886.
Alessandri-Bonetti M, Jeong T, Vaienti L, De La Cruz C, Gimbel ML, Nguyen VT, Egro FM. The role of microorganisms in the development of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Pathogens. 2023;12:313. Available:https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12020313