A Rare Case of BIA-ALCL Mass Associated with Mastectomy Skin Flap Erythema After Immunization with COVID-19

Abstract

Background: The immune response to breast implants after COVID-19 disease or COVID-19 vaccine administration includes acute inflammatory manifestations, capsular contracture and seroma. Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a very rare tumor in which numerous up-regulated pro-inflammatory immunological pathways activate a T cell lymphoproliferative disorder. Methods: The first reported case of a BIA-ALCL hidden mass clinically manifesting with inflammatory signs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccinations is here described. Results: Complete capsulectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy were performed and immediately after the surgical procedure local inflammatory signs disappeared; no evidence of disease was present 1 year later. Conclusions: Immunological stimulation by COVID-19 disease and vaccines may highlight some rare clinical manifestations of BIA-ALCL; persistent inflammatory symptomatology over breast implants should be investigated using second-level imaging. Level of Evidence V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.