Patrick Hudson MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Albuquerque, NM Telephone: 505-242-0070 office hours 9.15 am-4.30 pm.

Breast Implants & Lymphoma

Over the last few years a concern has been raised about the relationship of breast implants, saline or gel filled, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. If it occurs it is possibly associated with swelling or fluid collecting around an implant. Patients who develop fluid around their implant should contact their plastic surgeon.

The association was initially raised when a certain type of manufacturing process used for some McGhan-Allergan, Nagor  and PIP implants seemed to be associated with a small number of T-CELL Non Hodgkins Anaplastic Lymphomas - Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL). 

This issue is being carefully monitored by the FDA, and a committee of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Recent research suggests that  such a link, if it occurs, is very rare. The Washington Post has an article about this that you may wish to read.

The sensible thing to do if you have such an implant is to contact your plastic surgeon for further advice.

If you do not have this kind of implant it is still possible that, although rare, such a tumor might occur. In these cases it us is usually recommended that the implant and surrounding capsule is removed. When the implant is under the muscle complete removal of the capsule may be more difficult.

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Patrick Hudson MD PA
1101, Medical Arts NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87102, USA
Tel: 505-242-0070 • Fax: 505-242-0060