Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report about a Male Patient with Pectoral Implants

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is still a rare extralymphatic lymphoma. As of March 1, 2023, approximately 1,355 cases of BIA-ALCL have been reported worldwide. However, no such case has yet been described with pectoral implants in male patients. Most patients with BIA-ALCL present with nonspecific implant-associated symptoms such as late-onset seroma, swollen breasts, and deformation of implants.

Here, we describe BIA-ALCL in a 76-year-old male patient who presented with a late-onset seroma in order to raise awareness for BIA-ALCL also in men after esthetic chest surgery with silicone pectoral implants. The patient had undergone augmentation of the pectoralis muscle with implants for esthetic reasons 9 years before. First cytological specimens showed no malignancy. A repeated cytological assessment after 6 weeks from recurring seroma showed characteristic CD30+ T-cell clones. Surgery with complete bilateral capsulectomy and implant removal was performed. Due to the early-stage ALCL being limited only to the capsule and no evidence of systemic disease, adjuvant systemic treatment was not considered necessary.

Any persisting late-onset seroma also in male patients with pectoral implants should raise suspicion of ALCL as differential diagnosis and should be assessed with cytological examination.