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Breast Implants and Lymphoma

The FDA reported that breast implants may increase the risk of developing a form of lymphoma. Can a doctor explain whether this is with all types of implants? With any specific breast implant positioning? What's the actual risk for a woman with implants?

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

Doctor Answers (15)
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Breast implants and lymphoma

The study showing a link between breast implants and a specialized type of lymphoma notes that some cases may have been duplicated, not reported correctly, or (most worrisome) missed altogether. Does this mean that many women were counted more than once? Or forgotten altogether from the study? Also the numerator, the total number of breast implants performed is in the millions, so is this number significant? Further studies and statistical analysis will hopefully shed... more

FDA statement on possible risk of ALCL and breast implants

Earlier today, the FDA released a safety document on a possible association between breast implants (saline and silicone) and a very rare form of lymphoma – anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). While lymphomas can appear anywhere in the body, this very rare condition can appear in the scar tissue that forms around the breast implant. Since 1989, only 34 cases of ALCL have been identified out of the estimated 10 million+ implants placed worldwide. So essentially... more

ALCL and Breast Implants-What is the Risk of Lymphoma?

The FDA has identified a possible association between breast implants and the development of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a rare type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. While the FDA continues to allow the sale and use of approved breast implants, the FDA has stated, “additional data is needed to fully understand the possible relationship between ALCL and breast implants.” The FDA has stated, “women with implants may have a very small, but increased risk of... more

The FDA Got it WRONG: Smooth-Walled Breast Implants (Both Silicone and Saline) Do Not Pose a Cancer or Lymphoma Risk

As many surgeons have pointed out, the chances of getting Lymphoma as a result of breast implants is extremely low. The more important issue, I believe, is what the FDA did not point out in their January 26, 2011 notification. The FDA has seemingly ignored reported data indicating that in all cases where breast implant information was available in these rare cases of lymphoma, that none were identified in "smooth-shell" breast implants. Dr. Garry Brody, likely the... more

Latest FDA data on ALCL in patients with breast implants.

The FDA report of January 26, 2011 states that ALCL can occur anywhere in the body. According to the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) Program of the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 1 in 500,000 women per year in the US is diagnosed with ALCL. ALCL of the breast is even more rare; approximately 3 in 100 million women per year in the US are diagnosed with ALCL of the breast. The scientific literature from January 1997 through May 2010 showed 34 cases of ALCL in... more

Risk of ALCL with Implants is EXTREMELY LOW

Hi there- My colleagues have done a great job giving you the relevant numbers and percentages... I would add that it does seem that the risk was highest when textured implants were used, and most plastic surgeons no longer use these for breast enhancement.

FDA and reports of Lymphoma in Breast implant Patients

I am puzzled and I do not understand why this would be limited to breast implants only.The data is compelling in that the localized nature of the ALCL, when it occurs, is very suspicious for causation. However, the incidence is extremely low and the likelihood of any one surgeon seeing more than a single case is very rare making this a very difficult problem to study. The FDA report will now make us more aware fo the condition and to be on the surveillance for this entity. ... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Lymphoma study NOT linked to smooth walled breast implants.

Of 34 women with implants and lymphoma (out of 5 to 10 million women with implants). the exact implant used was identified in 25 women. Of these 25, 23 women had implants with a particular textured surface of the type manufactured by Allergan, Inc. The other two of the 25 had polyurethane implants which are no longer used. (This study was presented by Dr. Garry Brody at the 2010 meeting of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons.) In other words, none of the... more

Breasts Implants Risk of Lymphoma

Informing the "world" of a low incidence of this relationship (30 cases in over 10 million implantations = 0.000003% occurrence rate) causes increased discussions and increased removal of implants. But science will determine if this very slight risk is an issue. Stay tuned. From MIAMI Dr. Darryl J. Blinski

Possible association breast implants and lymphoma

There will be many questions about this report of collaboration with plastic surgeons and the FDA concerning reported anaplastic large cell lymphoma in 34 patients with breast implants. The cases have been reported since 1989, a period in which 10 million breast implant procedures have been performed. At this time we know that the lymphoma is very rare and few plastic surgeons have even heard of the condition or risk since the release yesterday. It is not breast cancer and implants do... more

One in a million or less risk of lymphoma with breast implants

The FDA's recent announcement has caused a lot of concern and unfortunately has been widely exaggerated. There is a small number of cases of a tumor-like development in the scar capsule around textured implants that appears on microscopic analysis to be what is called Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, or ALCL. The difference is that it doesn't behave like ALCL and is typically highly curable. With 34 or so cases, that is less than one for every year that implants have been on the... more

Lymphoma from Breast Implants?

The FDA had noted 34 cases of women with Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL). 34 women out of tens of millions who have undergone breast augmentation over the past 30 years. I can't say that there isn't a correlation, but it would appear that this is a very VERY rare phenomenon. In mathematical terms: 34 women with ALCL out of 10,000,000 women with breast implants This equates to a 0.000003% of developing ALCL as a result of having breast implants (if there... more

Breast implants and lymphoma risk

So far, the data is very limited and based on only 34 cases out of about 5 to 10 million patients. The FDA does not have information on the positioning of the implants and how it is related to the lymphoma risk.

Breast Implants and ALCL

This was released today. ALCL, or Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, is an extremely rare form of lymphoma. Per the FDA statement, there are 34 published cases of ALCL in women with breast implants. This is a very very small number compared with the millions of women with implants. Of the 34 women with ALCL, 24 have silicone implants. From the FDA report: "If you have breast implants, there is no need to change your routine medical care and follow-up. ALCL is very rare; it has occurred... more

FDA and cancer risk

Yes, this was released today. It is interesting that they have a number of cases about 30 in a pool of 5-10 million breast implant patients. No one knows for sure if there is a definite associative risk because the number is so low, but it will be investigated.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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Comments (1)

ccup 16 Nov 2012

This is frightening to me. I have smooth implants and have recently delevoped a lump adjacent to implant and my breast is very painful. Ct says likely a hematoma or seroma but mass can not be ruled out. Ultrasound the same. Waiting on MRI. My plastic surgeon won't see me. Have sought out a new one. I'm afraid.

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