A Spectrum of Disease: Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, Atypicals, and Other Implant Associations

Abstract

Breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is an uncommon and emerging malignancy caused by textured breast implants. The most common patient presentation is delayed seromas, other presentations include breast asymmetry, overlying skin rashes, palpable masses, lymphadenopathy, and capsular contracture. Confirmed diagnoses should receive lymphoma oncology consultation, multidisciplinary evaluation, and PET-CT or CT scan evaluation prior to surgical treatment. Disease confined to the capsule is curable in the majority of patients with complete surgical resection. BIA-ALCL is now recognized as one disease among a spectrum of inflammatory mediated malignancies which include implant-associated squamous cell carcinoma and B cell lymphoma.

Keywords: Breast augmentation; Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma; Breast reconstruction; Inflammatory malignancies; Textured breast implants.