Do Silicone Breast Implants Cause Lymphoma?

Probably not.

A group of Dutch plastic surgeons noticed that two of their patients developed anaplastic large-cell lymphoma after silicone breast augmentations.  Because this is a particularly rare form of cancer, the surgeons searched the Dutch national database to determine whether any other women had developed anaplastic large-cell lymphoma after silicone breast implantations.  A total of 13 women were identified--over 10 times more women than expected!

This sounds terrifying, I admit.  However, I think that this research is really more inflammatory than substantive.

• First, anaplastic large-cell lymphoma is extremely rare.  The incidence in the American population is 1 in 10 million.  Even if a woman has a 10- or 20-fold greater risk of developing this cancer, the risk is still just 1 in a million.
• Second, silicone breast implants almost certainly did not cause the cancer.  Silicone has been used for decades in a variety of medical implants--heart valves, artificial hips and knees, special IVs for long-term antibiotics or chemotherapy, etc.  If silicone was the problem, why wouldn't patients with artificial knees not have an increased risk of developing this rare lymphoma?
• Third, silicone implants have been extensively evaluated for safety.  It is sad but true to consider that more money has been spent in the scientific development of silicone breast implants than any other medical product.
• Fourth, decades-long evaluations of silicone implants in New England, Canada, and Scandinavia have never generated this data before.  Could the Dutch finding be a statistical anomaly?
• Or could another statistical issue be at play?  Could there be a confounding variable?  A confounding variable is an extraneous influence that may not be independent of the so-called cause or the effect.  For instance, women who undergo silicone breast augmentations may be more likely to engage in some type of behavior that is the true cause of the anaplastic large-cell lymphoma.  Are Dutch women who choose silicone breast augmentations more likely to smoke (or engage in some other known deleterious activity) than Dutch women who are not interested in breast augmentation?  Is, then, the issue not the silione implants but the smoking?

Certainly, cancer of any sort should not be taken lightly.  I will certainly be more vigilant in my evaluation of my patients after breast augmentation surgery.  And I will make sure that women who are considering this surgery know about the Dutch surgeons' finding.

Nevertheless, silicone implants will remain my favorite choice for breast enlargement and one of the best choices for breast reconstruction.

Comments

[Breast Enhancement Pills]

Risks and complications of breast augmentation?

1. Infection

Although infection is rare (1-3%) it can be a very distressing problem. Signs of infection are fever, redness, swelling, and discomfort. If the infection does not respond rapidly to antibiotic treatment, the implant must be removed and the implant can be replaced three (3) months after the wound is completely healed.

2. Bleeding

If bleeding occurs into the implant pocket after surgery, the implant must be surgically removed, the bleeding controlled, the wound washed out, and the implant replaced. Signs of bleeding include marked swelling, increasing pain, and bruising.

4. Asymmetry

Sometimes the implant will slip out of the position in which it was initially placed and appear too high, too low, or to one side. Most of the time this requires surgical repair.

5. Problems with Mammography

The implant will block some areas of the breast from being visualized on mammography. This is usually less if the implant is placed under the muscle.

Because breast implants might affect the clarity of the mammogram, patients who have multiple close family members with breast cancer probably should not have breast implants.

6. Autoimmune Disease

With all the confusion in the newspaper, magazines and on the T.V. or radio, there has been a fear that silicone implants may cause autoimmune disease. At this time there is no scientific evidence that silicone causes autoimmune disease.

7. Cancer

There is no evidence that silicone implants cause cancer.

8. Calcifications

Implants that have been in a patient for many years may cause calcifications in the scar capsule around the implant. These calcifications can almost always be distinguished from the calcifications which may indicate breast cancer.

9. Deflation

An implant may leak from weakness in the patch or valve area, a hole from incomplete inflation, or other factors. The more modern saline implants have been estimated to leak in 1-5% of cases.

[Michael Pickart]

Thank you, "Breast Enhancement Pills," for your thorough response. I agree with your list of possible complications.

However, I know of no pill, herb, gum, etc., than can reliable increase breast volume. Certainly, breast implants do have their known complications, but at least they succeed at their purpose: creating a more voluptuous chest!

[Charlotte NC]

Breast implants have risks just as do any type of enhancement, but they can improve the quality of your life, which is often worth the potential risk.

[dermatologist pomona]

Well, one think the reason why i dont want to take a risk for my breast is the infection,but of course i have a open minded when it comes in this kind of treatment.

sphin

[Jonathan Paul]

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Thank you
:)
Keep blogging