[Silicone breast implants and breast cancer]

Sarcomas have been shown to develop next to foreign body implants, silicone included, in animal experiments. However, this carcinogenesis is not believed to have any human relevance. A review of the existing epidemiological studies suggests that women with silicone breast implants have a reduced risk for developing breast cancer. However, the presence of breast implants does obscure mammographic visualization as well as palpation of mammary tissue. This has led to the assumption that breast cancer detection could be compromised in women with breast implants. In the few studies that have dealt with this issue, women with breast implants were diagnosed with the same stage of disease as women without implants. However, the percentage of false negative mammographies was increased in one study. In conclusion, there is currently no evidence of an association between breast implants and cancer or postponed breast cancer detection.