Current Knowledge on Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: Evidence from Italian Ministry of Health Registry Data

Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL): A Bibliometric Analysis of Publication Trends

BACKGROUND

Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) has become a significant concern in plastic surgery, particularly following the 2019 recall of Allergan macro-textured implants. While research has addressed its epidemiology and management, a comprehensive analysis of global publication trends is lacking. This study provides a bibliometric evaluation of the scientific literature on BIA-ALCL, identifying key contributors, research trends, and emerging areas of interest.

METHODS

A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection to retrieve English-languagepublications on BIA-ALCL from 1995 to 2024. Bibliometric indicators, including publication trends, authorship, country contributions, institutional affiliations, and citation impact, were analyzed. VOSviewer 1.6.20 was used for keyword co-occurrence and cluster analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 1,148 publications were identified, with a sharp increase after 2018. The United States contributed the most research (43.81%), followed by Italy, England, Australia, and Brazil. Cluster analysis revealed four thematic areas: clinical presentation and risk factors, diagnostic strategies, epidemiology and treatment, and etiological hypotheses. The most cited article was Keech et al. (1997), documenting an early case of BIA-ALCL.

CONCLUSIONS

This bibliometric analysis highlights the increasing research focus on implant surface characterization, disease etiology, and patient management. These findings provide valuable insights into the evolution of BIA-ALCL literature and may inform future research and clinical decision-making in plastic surgery.

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 .

High-Quality, Safe, and Accessible Free Care for BIA-ALCL Patients Within the Italian Public Healthcare System

Level of Evidence III 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 .

The (In-)Ability to Effectively Critique a Method Undermines the Validity of the Criticism

Level of Evidence III 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 .