Diagnosis, investigation and management of breast implant illness: a narrative review
**Introduction**: An increasing pool of literature proposes a link between silicone implants and autoimmune-related symptoms known colloquially as breast implant illness (BII). We describe the history of BII, the reported symptoms, risk factors and previously published diagnostic criteria with the a...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons
2021-03-01
|
| Series: | Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.34239/ajops.v4n1.210 |
| _version_ | 1797341559858921472 |
|---|---|
| author | Daniel WH Wong Tai K Lam |
| author_facet | Daniel WH Wong Tai K Lam |
| author_sort | Daniel WH Wong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | **Introduction**: An increasing pool of literature proposes a link between silicone implants and autoimmune-related symptoms known colloquially as breast implant illness (BII). We describe the history of BII, the reported symptoms, risk factors and previously published diagnostic criteria with the aim to aid clinicians in the diagnosis, investigations and management of patients presenting with symptoms that they attribute to their silicone breast implants.
**Methods**: A literature search was performed using MEDLINE®, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effect (DARE) and PubMed in September 2018. The search terms ‘autoimmune inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants’, ‘breast implants’ and ‘silicone’ were used alone and in combination.
**Results**: Thirty-four studies were reviewed, of which there were three case reports, 12 case series, 14 retrospective cohort studies, four case control studies and one prospective cohort study. Within this cohort, 18 studies were found regarding the explantation of implants relating to BII.
**Conclusion**: Studies have demonstrated no association between silicone breast implants and any known autoimmune diseases, but there exists a pool of literature suggestive of a relatively undefined condition colloquially known as BII. Serological testing and imaging play an important role in the assessment of patients to exclude other pathology, but these tests remain non-diagnostic for BII. Although medical treatment has shown promise, there is no established treatment for patients. The surgical explantation of implants appears to have positive outcomes for patients; however, the exact nature of the surgery required to achieve this remains unclear. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:20:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9ff71baabad84cdda5ebf4fc9562a0a8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2209-170X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:20:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery |
| spelling | doaj.art-9ff71baabad84cdda5ebf4fc9562a0a82024-01-28T00:25:17ZengAustralian Society of Plastic SurgeonsAustralasian Journal of Plastic Surgery2209-170X2021-03-0141Diagnosis, investigation and management of breast implant illness: a narrative reviewDaniel WH WongTai K Lam**Introduction**: An increasing pool of literature proposes a link between silicone implants and autoimmune-related symptoms known colloquially as breast implant illness (BII). We describe the history of BII, the reported symptoms, risk factors and previously published diagnostic criteria with the aim to aid clinicians in the diagnosis, investigations and management of patients presenting with symptoms that they attribute to their silicone breast implants. **Methods**: A literature search was performed using MEDLINE®, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effect (DARE) and PubMed in September 2018. The search terms ‘autoimmune inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants’, ‘breast implants’ and ‘silicone’ were used alone and in combination. **Results**: Thirty-four studies were reviewed, of which there were three case reports, 12 case series, 14 retrospective cohort studies, four case control studies and one prospective cohort study. Within this cohort, 18 studies were found regarding the explantation of implants relating to BII. **Conclusion**: Studies have demonstrated no association between silicone breast implants and any known autoimmune diseases, but there exists a pool of literature suggestive of a relatively undefined condition colloquially known as BII. Serological testing and imaging play an important role in the assessment of patients to exclude other pathology, but these tests remain non-diagnostic for BII. Although medical treatment has shown promise, there is no established treatment for patients. The surgical explantation of implants appears to have positive outcomes for patients; however, the exact nature of the surgery required to achieve this remains unclear.https://doi.org/10.34239/ajops.v4n1.210 |
| spellingShingle | Daniel WH Wong Tai K Lam Diagnosis, investigation and management of breast implant illness: a narrative review Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery |
| title | Diagnosis, investigation and management of breast implant illness: a narrative review |
| title_full | Diagnosis, investigation and management of breast implant illness: a narrative review |
| title_fullStr | Diagnosis, investigation and management of breast implant illness: a narrative review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diagnosis, investigation and management of breast implant illness: a narrative review |
| title_short | Diagnosis, investigation and management of breast implant illness: a narrative review |
| title_sort | diagnosis investigation and management of breast implant illness a narrative review |
| url | https://doi.org/10.34239/ajops.v4n1.210 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielwhwong diagnosisinvestigationandmanagementofbreastimplantillnessanarrativereview AT taiklam diagnosisinvestigationandmanagementofbreastimplantillnessanarrativereview |