Women who received saline and silicone textured breast implants may have an increased risk of developing a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, known as breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). This is a rare form of cancer in the immune system that grows in the breast but is not a form of breast cancer.
In March 2017, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated a safety alert concerning both silicone and saline breast implants to include notice of a potential link to lymphoma. The agency originally warned medical device product users of this risk in 2011. The FDA has classified the disease based on the World Health Organization’s designation of BIA-ALCL.
The FDA received 359 adverse event reports as of February 1, 2017, regarding BIA-ALCL in women with breast implants. In the FDA’s findings, 203 adverse event reports were on textured implants and 28 on smooth implants. The adverse event reports were from both saline and silicone breast implants. The reported adverse events were from the use of 186 silicone gel-filled implants and 126 saline-filled implants.
Symptoms of BIA-ALCL occur in the space in back of the breast implants. When a breast implant is placed behind the breast tissue or chest muscle, the tissue scars and a pocket develops around the implant separating the implant from the breast tissue. BIA-ALCL develops around this pocket area, not in the breast. The breast implant is placed under the breast tissue and scar tissue grows around the implant, separating it from the breast tissue. Symptoms in women who may be at risk for developing BIA-ALCL include pain, breast tissue fluid build up, asymmetric sizing of breasts, hardening of breasts, and lumps or masses in the breasts.
If you have suffered any health damage or been diagnosed with ALCL due to saline or silicone breast implants, we recommend that you discuss your situation in a free, initial consultation at the firm at your earliest opportunity. Our firm focuses on personal injury cases and is well-known and well-respected nationally for its work in defending injury victims in cases of dangerous drugs and defective medical devices. Read our blog post for more information.
Andrus Wagstaff PC is no longer investigating potential claims in regards to associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma in women with breast implants.
