Individuals with breast implants have a risk of developing breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, or BIA-ALCL. BIA-ALCL is not breast cancer—it is a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cancer of the immune system). In most cases, BIA-ALCL is found in the scar tissue and fluid near the implant, but in some cases, it can spread throughout the body. Precise risks are difficult to determine due to lack of information about how many patients have received breast implants in the US and worldwide. 
 
 Background 
 
 In 2011, the FDA identified a possible association between breast implants and the development of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). 
 
 At that time, the FDA knew of so few cases of ALCL that it was not possible to determine what factors increased a patient’s risk. In a report summarizing the Agency's findings, we emphasized the need to gather additional information to better characterize ALCL in individuals (cis- and trans-gender women and men) with breast implants. 
 
 Over time, we have strengthened our understanding of this condition. In 2016, the World Health Organization designated breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) as a T-cell lymphoma that can develop following breast implants. The exact number of cases remains difficult to determine due to significant limitations in world-wide reporting and lack of global breast implant sales data. At this time, most data suggest that BIA-ALCL occurs more frequently following implantation of breast implants with textured surfaces rather than those with smooth surfaces. 
 
 FDA Actions 
 
 We continue to collect and evaluate information about ALCL in individuals with breast implants. 
 
 On an ongoing basis, we: 
 
 
 
 Current Status 
 
 Since 2016, there have been several advances in the description of the disease and treatment recommendations. These are summarized below: 
 
 The World Health Organization recognized breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) as a unique form of ALCL that can develop following breast implant, implantation. 
 
 recognized breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) as a unique form of ALCL that can develop following breast implant, implantation. Professional organizations including the Plastic Surgery Foundation and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) published information to help physicians understand the disease and provide diagnosis and treatment. 
 
 and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) published information to help physicians understand the disease and provide diagnosis and treatment. Regulatory bodies outside the United States issued communications on BIA-ALCL. The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) reported a detailed analysis of the 46 patients with confirmed cases of BIA-ALCL in Australia, including the deaths of 3 women. As of September 2016, TGA has confirmed 10 additional cases in Australian patients. The French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) asked manufacturers of textured breast implants to perform biocompatibility testing (testing to determine how living tissues react to textured implants) and to report their findings. 
 
 
 
 Medical Device Reports 
 
 As of September 30, 2017, the FDA had received a total of 414 medical device reports (MDRs) of BIA-ALCL, including the death of nine patients. 
 
 272 of the 414 reports included information on the surface information of the implant at the time of the report, including 242 with textured surfaces and 30 with smooth surfaces. 413 of the 414 reports included information on implant fill types. Of these, 234 reported implants filled with silicone gel and 179 reported implants filled with saline. While the MDR reports provide information regarding the implant at the time of BIA-ALCL diagnosis, they do not typically give information about a patient’s history of breast implants. In the MDR reports, half of the reported cases were diagnosed within 7-8 years of implantation. It is important to note that at the time of diagnosis, patients may have their original breast implants or they may have had one or more replacements. 
 
 The MDR system is a valuable source of information. However, it depends on accurate reporting, and therefore may contain incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data. Over time, we may gather more information about a report and thus the numbers listed above may change. 
 
 In addition, it is difficult to determine the total number of cases or estimate risk from the MDR reporting system due to potential under-reporting of events, possible duplicate reporting, and lack of data about the exact number of breast implants. 
 
 Medical Literature 
 
 A significant body of medical literature has been published since our 2011 report, including additional case histories and comprehensive reviews of the natural history and long-term outcomes of the disease. Most of the cases reported in the literature describe individuals who have had textured implants. Several recent journal articles explore possible risk factors for developing BIA-ALCL, including the methods used to create the textured surface and the role of biofilm. Most of the published information about treatment describes removal of the implant and the capsule surrounding the implant, and in some patients, treatment with chemotherapy and radiation. 
 
 Several recent publications have estimated the risk of developing BIA-ALCL in individuals with textured breast implants. Current literature reported various estimates that BIA-ALCL may develop in 1 in between 3,817 to 30,000 women with textured breast implants (Clemens et al, 2017; Loch-Wilkinson et al, 2017 ; De Boer et al, 2018). 
 
 Recommendations 
 
 Health Care Providers: 
 
 If you have patients with breast implants, you should continue to provide them routine care and support. BIA-ALCL has been identified most frequently in patients undergoing implant revision operations for late onset, persistent seroma (fluid collection around the implant). Based on the available literature, half of the reported cases were diagnosed within 7-8 years post-implantation. Because BIA-ALCL has generally only been identified in patients with late onset of symptoms such as pain, lumps, swelling, or breast asymmetry, prophylactic breast implant removal in patients without signs or symptoms is not recommended. 
 
 Current recommendations from the Plastic Surgery Foundation and the NCCN include the steps below. 
 
 Provide all patients with the breast implant manufacturer’s labeling as well as other educational material prior to implantation, and make sure they are aware of the benefits and risks of the different types of implants. Most confirmed cases of BIA-ALCL have occurred in women with textured surface implants. 
 
 Consider the possibility of BIA-ALCL when you have a patient with late onset, persistent peri-implant seroma. In some cases, patients presented with capsular contracture or masses adjacent to the breast implant. If you have a patient with suspected BIA-ALCL, refer the individual’s case to a multidisciplinary tumor board for evaluation. 
 
 When testing for BIA-ALCL, collect fresh seroma fluid and representative portions of the capsule and send for pathology tests to rule out BIA-ALCL. Diagnostic evaluation should include cytological evaluation of seroma fluid with Wright Giemsa stained smears and cell block immunohistochemistry testing for cluster of differentiation (CD) and Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) markers. 
 
 Develop an individualized treatment plan in coordination with the patient's multi-disciplinary care team. Consider current clinical practice guidelines, such as those from the Plastic Surgery Foundation or the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) when choosing your treatment approach. 
 
 Report all confirmed cases of ALCL in individuals with breast implants to the FDA through MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting program. Health care personnel employed by facilities that are subject to the FDA's user facility reporting requirements should follow the reporting procedures established by their facilities. In some cases, the FDA may contact you for additional information. The FDA will keep the identities of the reporter and the patient confidential. 
 
 Submit case reports of BIA-ALCL to the PROFILE Registry to contribute to a better understanding of the causes and treatments of BIA-ALCL. 
 
 Patients: 
 
 Educate yourself about breast implants before agreeing to surgery. Breast implants approved in the U.S. can be filled with either saline or with silicone gel. They come in different sizes and shapes and have either smooth or textured surfaces (shells). Additional information is available on FDA's Breast Implants website. 
 
 BIA-ALCL appears to develop more frequently in individuals with textured implants than in people with smooth-surfaced implants. Before getting breast implants, make sure to talk to your health care provider about the benefits and risks of both textured-surface and smooth-surfaced implants. 
 
 If you have breast implants, there is no need to change your routine medical care and follow-up. You should expect swelling and pain immediately after surgery. If you notice changes in the way your breast looks or feels after you recover from surgery—including swelling or pain around the implant—be sure to talk to your health care provider about the possibility of BIA-ALCL. 
 
 
 
 Although not specific to BIA-ALCL, you should follow standard medical recommendations including: 
 
 Follow your doctor's instructions on how to monitor your breast implants. If you notice any changes, contact your health care provider promptly to schedule an appointment. 
 
 Follow your doctor’s instructions for routine mammography screening. Be sure to inform the mammography facility that you have breast implants so enough time is scheduled for your mammogram. Your doctor may also recommend other tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 
 
 To improve our understanding of BIA-ALCL, please continue to report all confirmed cases of BIA-ALCL, with as much detail as possible, through FDA's MedWatch Program. 
 
 We will continue to report on significant findings as new information and analyses become available. 
 
 Related Information ||||| The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided an update on breast implant–associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma. 
 
 In January 2011, the agency identified a possible association between breast implants and the development of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). 
 
 Since then, "we have strengthened our understanding of this condition and concur with the World Health Organization designation of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) as a rare T-cell lymphoma that can develop following breast implants," the FDA said in a statement March 21. 
 
 
 
 Over 350 Cases, 9 Deaths 
 
 The FDA notes that most data suggest that BIA-ALCL occurs more often after implantation of breast implants with textured surfaces rather than those with smooth surfaces. 
 
 
 
 As of February 1, 2017, the FDA has received a total of 359 medical device reports (MDRs) of BIA-ALCL, including 9 deaths. Of the 231 reports that included information on the implant surface, 203 concerned textured implants and 28, smooth implants. 
 
 Of the 312 reports that included information on implant fill types, 186 described implants filled with silicone gel and 126, implants filled with saline. 
 
 "It is important to note that details on breast implant surface and fill type are limited. While the MDR system is a valuable source of information, it may contain incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data," the FDA says. 
 
 During the last 6 years, a "significant body" of literature has been published on BIA-ALCL, including additional case histories and comprehensive reviews of the natural history and long-term outcomes of the disease, the agency notes. "All of the information to date suggests that women with breast implants have a very low but increased risk of developing ALCL compared to women who do not have breast implants." 
 
 Most cases of BIA-ALCL are treated by removal of the implant and the capsule surrounding the implant, and some cases have been treated by chemotherapy and radiation. However, because BIA-ALCL has "generally only been identified in patients with late onset of symptoms such as pain, lumps, swelling, or asymmetry, prophylactic breast implant removal in patients without symptoms or other abnormality is not recommended," the FDA said. 
 
 The exact number of cases of BIA-ALCL worldwide is unknown. 
 
 The FDA is continuing to collect and evaluate information about BIA-ALCL. For now, the agency recommends that clinicians who have patients with breast implants take the following action: 
 
 Be aware that most confirmed cases of BIA-ALCL have occurred in women with textured breast implants. Provide the manufacturer's labeling as well as any other educational materials to your patients before surgery and discuss with them the benefits and risks of the different types of implants. 
 
 Consider the possibility of BIA-ALCL in a patient with late-onset, persistent peri-implant seroma. In some cases, patients presented with capsular contracture or masses adjacent to the breast implant. A patient with suspected BIA-ALCL should be referred to an appropriate specialist for evaluation. When testing for BIA-ALCL, collect fresh seroma fluid and representative portions of the capsule and send for pathology tests to rule out BIA-ALCL. Diagnostic evaluation should include cytologic evaluation of seroma fluid with Wright-Giemsa–stained smears and cell block immunohistochemistry testing for cluster of differentiation and anaplastic lymphoma kinase markers. 
 
 Develop an individualized treatment plan in coordination with the patient's multidisciplinary care team. Consider current clinical practice guidelines, such as those from the Plastic Surgery Foundation or the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) when choosing your treatment approach. 
 
 Report all confirmed cases of ALCL in women with breast implants to the FDA's MedWatch system. 
 
 Submit case reports of BIA-ALCL to the PROFILE Registry to contribute to a better understanding of the causes and treatments of BIA-ALCL. 
 
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 / Updated By Maggie Fox 
 
 Breast implants can cause a rare form of cancer that may have killed at least nine people, the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday. 
 
 The cancer is called anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and the FDA is checking into more than 350 reports linking it with both silicone and saline breast implants. 
 
 Surgeon holding a cosmetic breast implant. Mauro Fermariello / Science Photo Library/Getty Images 
 
 “All of the information to date suggests that women with breast implants have a very low but increased risk of developing ALCL compared to women who do not have breast implants,” the FDA said in a statement. 
 
 Breast augmentation is the second most popular cosmetic procedure among women, after liposuction. More than 300,000 procedures were performed in 2015. So the cancer would be very rare even with 300 cases over 10 years or longer. 
 
 And the FDA says it is easily treated if caught early enough. 
 
 “Most cases of breast implant-associated ALCL are treated by removal of the implant and the capsule surrounding the implant and some cases have been treated by chemotherapy and radiation," it said. 
 
 Suspicions have been growing that implants might cause ALCL, which is a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.The FDA first started looking into the possibility in 2011. 
 
 “At that time, the FDA knew of so few cases of this disease that it was not possible to determine what factors increased the risk,” the agency said. 
 
 But now there’s more information, including hundreds of complaints and a World Health Organization report pointing to breast implants as a possible cause. 
 
 “As of February 1, 2017, the FDA has received a total of 359 medical device reports of breast-implant-associated ALCL, including nine deaths,” it said. 
 
 “As of February 1, 2017, the FDA has received a total of 359 medical device reports of breast-implant-associated ALCL, including nine deaths." 
 
 “Breast implants approved in the U.S. can be filled with either saline or with silicone gel. They come in different sizes and shapes and have either smooth or textured surfaces (shells),” it says. 
 
 The FDA added, “There are 231 reports that included information on the implant surface. Of these, 203 were reported to be textured implants and 28 reported to be smooth implants." 
 
 The cancer can take about 10 years to develop on average after the implant first goes in and usually stays in the area right around the implant, WHO researchers reported last year in the journal Blood. But it can break out and spread. 
 
 It’s usually diagnosed after a patient reports pain and swelling. 
 
 The FDA recommends that patients do some research before getting breast implants. 
 
 Related: More Women Get Breast Implants Removed 
 
 “Although it is rare, breast-implant-associated ALCL appears to develop more frequently in women with textured implants than in women with smooth-surfaced implants. Before getting breast implants, make sure to talk to your health care provider about the benefits and risks of textured-surface vs. smooth-surfaced implants.” 
 
 The FDA has a breast implants website with more details. 
 
 “If you have breast implants, there is no need to change your routine medical care and follow-up,” the agency added, noting that ALCL is rare. 
 
 Related: FDA Approves New Breast Implant 
 
 “Follow your doctor's instructions on how to monitor your breast implants. If you notice any changes, contact your health care provider promptly to schedule an appointment. Get routine mammography screening and ask for a technologist specifically trained in performing mammograms on patients with breast implants,” the FDA advised. 
 
 People with silicone gel implants should get magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to look for leaks. 
 
 The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Plastic Surgery Foundation are making a list of implant patients who develop ALCL. "The research will also focus on identifying potential risk factors and criteria detection and management of this disease," the groups say on a website devoted to the matter. 
 
 In 2011, the FDA reported that one in five women who had silicone breast implants for cosmetic purposes — and half of those who got implants after a mastectomy — needed surgery to remove the implants within a decade.
– Six years after first announcing a possible link between breast implants and a rare form of cancer, the FDA confirmed Tuesday that breast implants are connected to anaplastic large cell lymphoma, NBC News reports. In a statement, the FDA says women with breast implants "have a very low but increased risk" of ALCL. The FDA has received 359 reports of ALCL cases tied to breast implants, including nine people who've died from the cancer. ALCL appears to be more common in women whose implants have a textured—rather than smooth—surface, according to Medscape. Whether the implants are filled with saline or silicone gel doesn't appear to make a difference. ALCL takes an average of a decade to develop after the implant procedure. But it's easily treated if caught early, which typically happens when women start suffering pain and swelling. Most cases of ALCL have been treated by removing the breast implant. Some cases have required chemo and radiation. Breast implants are the second most popular cosmetic procedure for women. More than 300,000 breast implants were performed in 2015.