The Epidemiology of Breast Implant–Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma in Australia and New Zealand Confirms the Highest Risk for Grade 4 Surface Breast Implants

Abstract

The epidemiology and implant specific risk for BIA-ALCL has been previously reported for Australia and New Zealand. We now present updated data and risk assessment since our last report. New cases in Australia and New Zealand were identified and analyzed. Updated sales data from three leading breast implant manufacturers (i.e., Mentor, Allergan, and Silimed) were secured to estimate implant-specific risk. A total of 26 new cases of ALCL were diagnosed between January 2017 to April 2018 increasing the total number of confirmed cases in Australia and New Zealand to 81. This represents a 47% increase in number of reported cases over this time period. The mean age and time to development remains unchanged. The implant specific risk has increased for Silimed Polyurethane (23.4 times higher) as compared with Biocell, which has remained relatively static (16.5 times higher) compared with Siltex implants. The number of confirmed cases of BIA-ALCL in Australia and New Zealand continues to rise. The implant specific risk has now changed to reflect a strong link to implant surface area/roughness as a major association with this cancer.