Implications of Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) for Breast Cancer Reconstruction: An Update for Surgical Oncologists

Abstract

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a rare disease that has been diagnosed in an extremely small proportion of women with breast implants. The pathogenesis of this disease is currently poorly understood, but it appears to be related to textured implants. Recent high-profile media coverage of this rare clinical entity is likely to cause considerable anxiety for breast cancer patients who have undergone alloplastic breast reconstruction. The purpose of this review is to provide surgical oncologists with an evidence-based overview of the incidence, diagnosis, and management of BIA-ALCL with a particular emphasis on breast reconstruction cases. It is essential that surgical oncologists are familiar with BIA-ALCL, because although it is extremely rare, early recognition and surgical resection will be curative in many cases.