Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma: What do we know so far? Part I

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma is a rare type of non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoma that was newly recognized as a separate entity in the 2016 revision of the World Health Organization Classification of tumours of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. Although rare, breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma is increasingly recognized and the radiologists play an important role in early diagnosis. The aetiology appears to be multifactorial involving chronic inflammation due to an indolent infection of the biofilm surrounding the implants and leading to malignant transformation of activated T cells in some patients with genetic predisposition. The clinical course is insidious, manifesting primarily as a sudden onset of breast swelling, discomfort, or a palpable mass near the breast implants that have been present for a long time. Ultrasound is the imaging modality of choice. Thus, the presence of more than a trace of peri-prosthetic fluid should prompt aspiration for microbiological, cytological, and flow cytometric analysis. The purpose of this article, which is the first part on the subject, is to provide an update of the most recent epidemiological data and revisit the clinical and radiological characteristics of this lymphoma subtype. (c) 2020 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.