On 8th September 2022 the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) released a report that described a number of cases of very rare cancers associated with breast implant capsules.

The cancers were squamous cell carcinomas (BIA-SCC), and various lymphomas. These were not breast cancers, but cancers that arose in the surrounding capsule (scar tissue) of breast implants.

This statement is provided by BAAPS to give information on what is known, and an initial recommendation for practice.

Very few cases of these cancers have been reported worldwide and as such, there is not enough information available to provide concrete guidance on risk factors or patient management. These cancers are distinct from BIA-ALCL (Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma).

Fewer than 20 cases (to date) of BIA-SCC have been reported, on a background of a worldwide population of several tens of millions of women having breast implants. It should be noted that other cases of SCC have been reported in the breast unrelated to breast implants.

Of the cases that have been documented, they presented between 11 and 40-years after the original breast implant surgery. They occurred with both smooth and textured surface implants, and with both silicone and saline filled implants.

Patients reported delayed swelling of the breast (late seroma), pain, redness and often hardness (capsular contracture) of the breast.

Initial recommendation:

Now that BIA-SCC has been described, it is recommended that this is included as part of the informed consent process for patients having surgery involving breast implants. It should be stressed that with current data, this appears to be a very rare phenomenon.

As further data and information comes to light, the BAAPS will be updating this guidance and their recommendations