A Systematic Review of Breast Implant-Associated Squamous Cell Carcinoma
A systematic review of the published cases of breast implant-associated squamous cell carcinoma (BIA-SCC) — an exceptionally rare cancer reported in the capsule around implants, distinct from BIA-ALCL.
View original source ↗What this source says
The review gathered the small number of published BIA-SCC cases, noting an increasing number of reports over time, a long average time from implantation to diagnosis, and that a well-established diagnosis-and-management guideline does not yet exist.
Why it matters
The clearest peer-reviewed synthesis of what little is known about BIA-SCC — a companion to the FDA's safety communication on the same topic.
Key findings
- Identified 18 published BIA-SCC cases across 14 articles.
- Reports have increased over time (4 in the 1990s vs 14 since 2010).
- Mean time to diagnosis was about 21 years after implantation; silicone implants predominated.
- No comprehensive, well-established guideline for diagnosis and management yet exists.
Limitations
Based on a very small number of case reports; the authors note the pathophysiology is poorly understood and true incidence is likely underreported.
What this does not prove
With so few cases, it cannot establish how common BIA-SCC is, who is at risk, or that implants cause it.
Source / citation
Niraula S, et al. · Cancers (Basel) · 2023 · Cancers 15(18):4516
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10526244/
- DOI:
- 10.3390/cancers15184516
Last reviewed against the original source: 2026-09-02. Summaries are written in plain language; the original source is authoritative.
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