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FDA Says Possible Link Between Implants and ALCL Cancer - What's Your View?

asked 1 year ago by Bainbridge600 in Bainbridge, PA
Latest answer by David Greenspun, MD, MSc
Question viewed 396 times
Tags: cancer, FDA, safety

This news story broke last night (January 27, 2011) and I wanted to get your thoughts. http://healthland.time.com/2011/01/26/fda-breast-implants-may-be-linked-to-a-rare-cancer

13 answers to FDA Says Possible Link Between Implants and ALCL Cancer - What's Your View?

FDA and reports of Lymphoma in patients with breast implants

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
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Link Between Implants and ALCL Cancer-Perspective on Risk

The FDA this past week has alerted the general population of a POTENTIAL risk between breast implants and a rare form of Lymphoma. The plastic surgery community brought this information to the FDA several years ago in an attempt to keep them informed of our current research into the effects of breast implants in general. As has been reported, the world has been scoured for cases of this extremely rare form of Lymphoma and only a handful of cases have been found. Because the numbers are... more

Paul Vitenas, Jr., MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Possible Link Between A Certain Type of Breast Implant and A Rare Form of Lymphoma

As has been well stated, the exact link between breast implants and this very rare form of lymphoma is not completely clear. Even though the incidence of its occurrence is incredibly low in the total breast implant population (30 or cases in 5 to 10 million women or roughly a 0.000005% risk), its development next to a breast implant may be more than just coincidental given that the occurrence of this type of lymphoma in the breast is known to be in the range of about 3 cases per 100... more

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com

ALCL and Breast Implant Safety - We Still Have a Lot to Learn

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 ALCL is not breast cancer, it is a malignancy. Furthermore, although a conclusive causal relationship has not yet been established, it is presently thought that breast implants can play a role in the development of ALCL; the number of identified cases far exceeds the number of expected cases (3 cases of... more

David Greenspun, MD, MSc
New York Plastic Surgeon

The FDA is looking at a possible link of implants to anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

The plastic surgery profession has, continues, and always will look for possible connections between breast implants and other illnesses. ALCL is a very rare cancer. I've never actually known a patient or anyone else to have it. The liklihood of any woman with implants contracting it is extremely remote. Because it is so rare, it will take some time to establish any link between the implants and the condition. Remember that millions of women for decades... more

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implants and Lymphoma

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 in only a very small... more

Babak Dadvand, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

ALCL

This is an incredibly rare cancer - a form of non-Hodgkins's lymphoma. It's not breast cancer. Somewhere between 30 and 60 cases have been reported in the entire world in patients that also have breast implants. It's too early to know the details of any linkage. The patients had implants for both reconstructive and cosmetic purposes, some silicone, some saline. Here's the bottom line: don't panic. Do your own breast self-exams.... more

Thomas Fiala, MD
Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implants and Cancer

I've read the Wall Street Journal report, not the original study, but spokespersons from the FDA and Allergan and Mentor (implant manufacturers) all agreed that while the numbers reach statistical significance, for any one woman, the chance of getting ALCL is quite rare. They did NOT recommend implant removal or even additional breast exams or other diagnostic studies. One representative from Allergan said the chance is less than the possibility of a woman being struck by... more

Steve Laverson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

feelbeautiful.com

Breast Implants and ALCL

It is too soon to know whether a link truly exists between ALCL and breast implants. The FDA has identified about 40 cases while over 10 million women have had implants, so no link has yet been shown. At this time, the FDA has informed the public and plastic surgery organizations of this possible association, and is asking plastic surgeons to report any suspected cases.

Fredrick A. Valauri, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

FDA report on implants

Without further research it is hard to say what the exact relationship is. But 30 cases in 5-10 million implant cases is extremely low. From what I understant it was mainly with one type of implant.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implant Safety

As noted in the other posts, this finding is extremely rare, and only relates to a specific type of textured implant. The process is different between manufacturers, and seems limited to just one style from McGhan (now Allergan). There is no issue with smooth walled implants.

Verne Weisberg, MD
Portland Plastic Surgeon

www.drverne.com

Smooth walled breast implants not linked to ALCL lymphoma.

I just posted a long answer to a similar question. The implants that have been identified in 23 women with this condition have a very specific textured shell created by the lost salt method, of the type manufactured by Allergan, Inc. In any case the possible risk, even if real is too low (about 3 per million) for much concern.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Odds of 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 is an... more