Breast Implants - Potentially Putting You At Risk For ALCL

Micrograph of an ALCL.
Photo Credit: Nephron 

Plastic surgery has become more and more common over the years now that society tends to believe that appearance is everything. This is has caused ethical limits to be stretched by plastic surgeons to help those who are willing to go under the knife to try and achieve this perfect body image. One of the most common types of plastic surgery to this day are breast augmentations. In a recent study done by the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, a link between anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and breast implants has been found. ALCL is typically found in the lymph nodes, skin, lungs, liver and soft tissue but in 71 documented cases, it has been found in the breast regions of those who have had breast surgery in the past. This form of lymphoma typically develops tumors 10 years after the operation. Although implant-related ALCL is very rare, the reasons as to why implants can cause lymphoma remains unknown and scientists are working towards determining these unknown reasons. Regardless of how rare this form of lymphoma is, people should still be aware of the risks of ALCL when opting to get breast implants. However, until society can learn that imperfection is beauty, breast augmentations will continue to remain a common elective surgery and people will continue to be put at risk for this rare form of lymphoma. 

References:

Editors of Publications International, Ltd..  "20 Most Common Plastic Surgeries" HowStuffWorks.com, 20 September 2007. http://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/surgeries-procedures/20-most-common-plastic-surgeries3.htm#page=0 

University of Veterinary Medicine -- Vienna. "Link between breast implants, cancer under investigation." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 6 October 2014. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141006094620.htm 

Photo Credit:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anaplastic_large_cell_lymphoma_-_cropped_-_very_high_mag.jpg 

Related Articles:

BMJ-British Medical Journal. "Cosmetic breast implants may adversely affect survival in women who develop breast cancer." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 April 2013. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130430194312.htm 

RAND Corporation. "Link between breast implants and rare form of cancer confirmed, but cause remains unclear." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 19 April 2011. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110419121355.htm