Implant most linked to disease is chosen by UK women

Most patients with breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) first notice a sudden swelling, caused by a build-up of fluid, or seroma, around their implant. There may be a lump. Most patients have been successfully treated with surgery to remove and replace the affected implant. Some women with advanced disease have received chemotherapy or radiotherapy and are now cancer-free.

To diagnose the disease, specific tests must be carried out on fluid removed from the swelling with a needle, or on a tissue biopsy.

Research has suggested that BIA-ALCL is more commonly seen in those who choose an implant with a textured surface. Silicone breast prostheses are either smooth or have a textured, roughened outer shell that provides a better grip to adhere to tissue. While the majority of implants

in the US are smooth, up to 99 per cent of the estimated 30,000 British women who have an augmentation or reconstruction are given textured types. Some research has suggested the textured surface provides an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, should they be present. This could be introduced to the body during implantation and it is this that could trigger the lymphoma – however, this explanation for the disease is still a theory and has yet to be proven.

Women who have had breast implants should be aware of any changes to the breast, specifically swelling or a change in size, or any unusual solid masses.