Silicone implant as a potential association with multifocal/multicentric breast cancer: A case report

Breast augmentation with silicone implants is a prevalent procedure worldwide, although with certain associated complications. While the current literature does not establish a direct causative relationship between implants and breast cancer, there are recognized diagnostic and therapeutic challenges posed by the presence of implants in the event of breast cancer. We report a unique case of a 37-year-old premenopausal woman with silicone breast implants who detected a palpable mass in her right breast. On further evaluation and diagnostic tests, multifocal and multicentric invasive ductal carcinoma was confirmed. Despite the complexity introduced by the presence of implants and multifocal and multicentric disease, which typically directs management towards mastectomy, a decision for breast-conserving surgery (BCS) was reached following thorough multidisciplinary consultation and pre-operative planning. The procedure was successful, with clear resection margins, no intraoperative complications, and preservation of esthetic outcomes. The long-term success of the personalized BCS approach, highlighted by the absence of local recurrence at the 3-year follow-up, underscores the importance of personalized, multidisciplinary planning in treating invasive ductal carcinoma in patients with silicone breast implants. This case underscores the need for further investigation into the potential link between silicone implants and multifocal and multicentric invasive ductal carcinoma, and reconsideration of prevailing surgical approaches to better utilize BCS.