CIs and lymphoma
Reviewed by Badr El Mostafa

In this editorial, the authors raise a very serious (albeit hypothetical) question: can the silicon of cochlear implants induce an anaplastic lymphoma akin to breast implants? The case of breast implant-induced large cell anaplastic lymphoma has been highly publicised. Although most breast implants are made of textured silicon, some are also made of smooth silicon like the cover of cochlear implants. The risk with smooth silicon is much smaller than textured silicon but is not zero. No cases have been reported to date. This is mostly due to the rare incidence of the disease, the small numbers of implantees (compared to mammary implants), the small volume of smooth silicon and the relative mechanical stability of the cochlear implants compared to the breast and the tissue properties of the site of implantation. In spite of these reassuring elements, the risk, or at least the seed of doubt, is there and the authors conclude that we must keep a registry of all adverse events and follow and report all abnormal cases.

Lymphome anaplastique et silicone des implants cochleaires: rassurons nous.
Risoud M, Bonne NX, Vincent C.
ANN FRANC D’OTO-RHINO LARYNGOL PATH CEVIC-FAC
2019;136:333-4.