Early studies had shown that a comparison between breast implant patients and those receiving other cosmetic surgery was the best way to determine the specific effects of the silicone implants, she said. This included cancers of the mouth, stomach, large intestine, breast, cervix, uterus, ovary, bladder, thyroid, connective tissues and immune system. Dr. Brinton said there were slightly elevated rates of cancer for the respiratory system and brain, but she said there is no clear connection between these cancers and the silicone implants. She said there were 33 lung cancers among the implant patients, compared with 13 among the other cosmetic surgery patients, but the connection of this cancer to implants is not clear. Dr. Brinton said the cause of death for these patients was obtained from death certificates and it was not possible to determine the smoking habits of the deceased.
Smoking is known to be the leading cause of lung cancer.
Between 1.5 million and 2 million women have received breast implants since 1962, about 80 percent for cosmetic reasons and the rest as breast reconstruction after cancer. The study did not include women who had received implants after breast cancer. The study follows an earlier study that found no increased risk for breast cancer among patients who received implants. Further analysis of the study data will evaluate risks linked to other causes of death and to the risk of connective tissue disorders among implant patients.