The national agency of the U.S. FDA has warned the world’s population on a possible link between silicone implants and saline and a rare form of cancer called anaplastic large cell lymphoma or ALCL that affects the immune system.
The FDA said in a statement that patients with breast implants may have a very small risk of developing ALCL, but not without significance.
Breast Implants cosmetic surgery, possible cause of breast cancer ALCL
So far we have detected 60 cases of ALCL in the world, but this is a figure difficult to verify because not all cases have been published in the scientific literature, and some may be duplicates.
Most cases were detected when patients attended the clinic with complaints related to implants, such as pain, lumps, swelling or asymmetry of the breasts, which may appear a year or twenty years after breast augmentation.
At the moment we need more data and a thorough analysis of the situacoin. The FDA does not want to alarm but rather to realize that specialists from other possible cases of ALCL.
In the words of William Maisel, chief scientist at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, FDA:
“We need more data and ask health professionals to inform us of any confirmed cases they identify. It is working with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and other experts to establish a patient registry [...] Something that will help better understand the development of this cancer in women with breast implants. “
On the other hand stresses that “There is no need for women with breast implants to change their routine care and follow-ups. ALCL is very rare and represents only a small number of the millions of women (between five and 10 worldwide) who have breast implants. “