Locally advanced breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma: a combined medical-surgical approach

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a rare form of non-Hodgkin's T-cell lymphoma that develops around breast implants.

This report illustrates the case of a patient affected by a locally advanced BIA-ALCL which infiltrated the thoracic wall (stage T4N0M0) following implant-based reconstruction after left mastectomy. Given the initial inoperability due to the patient's poor general condition, the treatment plan provided for a primary cycle of systemic neoadjuvant immunotherapy/chemotherapy, surgical removal of the mass, and subsequent systemic chemotherapy/immunotherapy. This resulted in complete remission - the patient remained disease-free even over a year later - without the need for adjuvant radiotherapy.

Our real-life case shows how the existing guidelines can be successfully adapted as part of an individualized approach to advanced and/or difficult cases.