This summary table contains detailed information about research studies. While viewing summary tables offers an informative glimpse at the science behind many breast cancer guidelines and recommendations, they should be viewed with some caution. There are a number of concepts you must understand to be able to successfully read and interpret research tables. To get some background information about understanding research tables, please see How to Read a Research Table.
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Introduction: Although there has been some controversy in the past about the relationship between silicone breast implants and breast cancer risk, the current body of evidence does not support a link between the two. Moreover, a meta-analysis of 10 studies of cosmetic breast implants (including studies of both saline and silicone implants) found no increase in breast cancer risk among women with breast implants [1].
Find more information on the strengths and weaknesses of different types of studies.
See how this risk factor compares with other risk factors for breast cancer.
Study selection criteria: Available prospective cohort studies with at least 40 cases of breast cancer.
Table note: The standardized incidence ratios below compare the incidence of breast cancer among women with breast implants to the incidence of breast cancer among the general population. A standardized incidence ratio above 1 indicates increased risk among women with breast implants. A standardized incidence ratio below 1 indicates decreased risk.
Study
|
Study Population
(number of women with breast implants)
|
Follow-up
(years)
|
Higher Risk of Developing Breast Cancer for Women with Breast Implants?
Yes/No
|
Standardized Incidence Ratio
|
Prospective cohort studies
|
Brisson et al. [2]
|
24,558
(188 cases)
|
14.9
|
No
|
0.57SIG
|
| Lipworth et al. [3] |
6,222
(84 cases) |
16.6
|
No |
0.73 (0.53-0.90)
|
McLaughlin et al. [4]
|
3,486
(53 cases)
|
18.4
|
No
|
0.7 (0.6-1.0)
|
Bryant and Brasher [5]
|
10,835
(45 cases)
|
10
|
No
|
0.68 (0.32-1.25)
|
Deapen et al. [6]
|
3,139
(43 cases)
|
15.5
|
No
|
0.69 (0.50-0.93)
|
SIG=Statistically significant difference between incidence of breast cancer among women with breast implants and incidence among women without breast implants.
References
1. Hoshaw SJ, Klein PJ, Clark BD, Cook RR, Perkins LL. Breast implants and cancer: causation, delayed detection, and survival. Plast Reconstr Surg. 107(6):1393-407, 2001.
2. Brisson J, Holowaty EJ, Villeneuve PJ, et al. Cancer incidence in a cohort of Ontario and Quebec women having bilateral breast augmentation. Int J Cancer. 118(11):2854-62, 2006.
3. Lipworth L, Tarone RE, Friis S, et al. Cancer among Scandinavian women with cosmetic breast implants: a pooled long-term follow-up study. Int J Cancer. 124(2):490-3, 2009.
4. McLaughlin JK, Lipworth L, Fryzek JP, Ye W, Tarone RE, Nyren O. Long-term cancer risk among Swedish women with cosmetic breast implants: an update of a nationwide study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 19;98(8):557-60, 2006.
5. Bryant H, Brasher P. Breast implants and breast cancer--reanalysis of a linkage study. N Engl J Med. 332(23):1535-9, 1995.
6. Deapen DM, Hirsch EM, Brody GS. Cancer risk among Los Angeles women with cosmetic breast implants. Plast Reconstr Surg. 119(7):1987-92, 2007.
Updated 09/12/09
