English
EnglishBIA-ALCL (Breast Implant Associated - Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma) is a
rare form of non-Hodkin lymphoma that can occur in people with
breast implants, especially those with a macro-textured surface. The risk is very low,
but it's still important to be aware of the symptoms and know when you should see a
plastic surgeon for a check-up.
The good news is that BIA-ALCL has a good prognosis when detected early, and
treatment usually consists of removal of implants and capsule.
Do you experience sudden changes in your breasts after breast augmentation? Then it is recommended
to book a check-up appointment. Although the vast majority of changes are due to harmless conditions
such as capsular contracture or leakage from the implant, it is important to rule out more
serious causes.
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, you should book a consultation with a plastic surgeon for a thorough assessment. If you have the information card for your implants, please bring it with you to your consultation.
During a check-up after breast augmentation, the surgeon will examine the breasts clinically. Occasionally
In addition, an ultrasound examination of the breasts is performed. On the basis of this, the surgeon will advise on the recommended treatment. This may involve the following:
Patients diagnosed with BIA-ALCL are treated at Radiumhospitalet in Norway. As this is a very rare diagnosis, the treatment is centralized at Radiumhospitalet, where the treatment involves assessment and surgical removal of the prosthesis and capsule. Treatment is usually completed after this.
The risk of developing BIA-ALCL is very low. Research shows that the incidence varies
depending on the surface of the implant. The risk for people with Allergan Biocell
macro-textured implants are reported to range from 1 in 443 to 1 in 3,345,
while the risk for other textured implants is around 1 in 30,000.
There is a big difference in the incidence of BIA-ALCL depending on the surface structure of the
silicone implants. The prostheses that have so-called macro-texturing, i.e. a
specific type of rough surface, have a significantly higher incidence of BIA-ALCL compared to
with other surface textures.
Allergan's Natrelle dentures with Biocell texturing had the macro-textured
surface that is most associated with BIA-ALCL. In the wake of increased knowledge
about BIA-ALCL, the manufacturer chose to withdraw the implants from the market in 2019.
The risk of BIA-ALCL is higher in patients with this texture
compared to other textured implants.
The implants in question that were withdrawn from the market were:
No, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has specifically said that it is not necessary
to remove the implants, unless BIA-ALCL has been diagnosed.
If you do not have symptoms, there is no need to do anything at this time
time, other than regular self-monitoring and any mammography examinations.
If you experience changes in your silicone breasts, it is generally recommended that you have them checked
with a plastic surgeon. The current recommendation from the US health authorities when
you do not have symptoms does not require you to remove your dentures.
If you have these prostheses, it is important to be aware that there is a risk of
develop BIA-ALCL, which is a rare cancer of the lymphatic system. As long as you have
implants, you should regularly examine your breasts yourself.
At this point in time, it is not known what the exact risk is. What we do know
is that the risk of Allergan Biocell implants appears to be significantly higher than
other textured dentures. For people with Allergan Biocell macro-textured
prostheses, the risk of BIA-ALCL is estimated to be between 1 in 443 and 1 in 3,345.
For all textured dentures, the risk is significantly lower, around 1 in 30,000.
It may be good to be aware that the relevant risk of surgery is considered to be
higher than the risk of developing BIA-ALCL. Therefore, discuss this with your surgeon before
you are planning an operation.
The best and easiest way to find out is to contact your surgeon or clinic
who operated on you. They can find this information in their medical record systems.
Yes, many who were reconstructed with anatomical prostheses before Allergan withdrew
implants, can have Allergan's prostheses with Biocell texturing.
There is no public register in Norway for silicone implants. It has been adopted
that such registers should be created, but this does not yet exist in Norway.
If you have any questions or would like an assessment of your breast implants, we recommend that you book a consultation with us. We're here to give you peace of mind and professional support.
