Breast Implants Linked to Rare Cancer Are Recalled Worldwide

Denise Grady, The New York Times: July 24, 2019.


Textured breast implants made by Allergan that have been linked to an unusual cancer are being recalled in the United States at the request of the Food and Drug Administration, and will also be recalled globally, the agency announced on Wednesday.

The F.D.A. decision, based on an increasing number of cases and deaths from the implant-associated cancer, lags far behind action in Europe, where the Allergan devices were effectively banned late last year.

Worldwide, 573 cases and 33 deaths from the cancer have been reported, with 481 of the cases clearly attributed to Allergan Biocell implants, the F.D.A. said. Of the 33 deaths, the agency said its data showed that the type of implant was known in 13 cases, and in 12 of those cases the maker was Allergan.

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F.D.A. officials said they were continuing to monitor the incidence of lymphoma linked to other types of implants and would take action against them if needed.

They also said they were considering changes to the labeling of breast implants, like adding a black-box warning to draw attention to the risks, and requiring doctors and patients considering the surgery to go over a checklist to help women understand the benefits and risks of the devices.

The contents of the implant, silicone or saline, are not a factor in the lymphoma. The covering or shell of the implant, which can be either smooth or textured, is the key. Textured implants, which have a slightly roughened surface that adheres to tissue and helps hold the device in place, have been singled out as the cause of the lymphoma.

Why the texturing leads to cancer in some patients is not known. Some people may be genetically predisposed to have an inflammatory reaction to the texturing that can gradually lead to cancer, Dr. Clemens, the plastic surgeon, said. Some researchers also suspect that bacteria trapped in crevices in the roughened surface might somehow lead to the lymphoma.

Although several companies make textured implants, a great majority of the lymphoma cases have occurred in women with the Allergan products.

Allergan’s textured implants account for only about 5 percent of the implants used in the United States, but have been much more common in Europe, where they have already been recalled by many countries. Worldwide, 38 countries have banned textured implants, Dr. Clemens said.

Allergan said on Wednesday that it was halting sales of the textured implants worldwide.

“When women decide to get breast implants for reconstruction after mastectomy or for breast augmentation, they should not be putting their lives at risk for lymphoma,” said Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Center for Health Research, who has studied implants.

She added that the recall would reduce the risk but not eliminate it, because some women with other types of implants also had the lymphoma.

See the full story here.