NCCN Consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and management of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma

Published case series demonstrate a lack of treatment standardization for breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) with a wide variety of therapeutic strategies being employed at all stages of disease. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) annually publishes Clinical Practice Guidelines for Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas. For the first time, BIA-ALCL management will be included which signifies an important and needed guideline addition. The new BIA-ALCL guideline was achieved by a consensus of lymphoma oncologists, plastic surgeons, radiation oncologists, and surgical oncologists. NCCN guidelines focus on the diagnosis and management throughout the stages of many lymphoma subtypes based upon the most current data available. This article summarizes the essential recommendations and optimal therapeutic strategies of the NCCN guidelines critical to the plastic surgery community. We encourage international adoption of these BIA-ALCL treatment standards by our specialty societies across the oncology and surgery disciplines.