The Dow Corning case raised serious questions about the safety of silicone breast implants and about larger issues of medical device testing and patient education.


Safety of Silicone Breast Implants presents a well-documented, thoughtful exploration of the safety of these devices, drawing conclusions from the available research base and suggesting further questions to be answered. This book also examines the sensitive issues surrounding women's decisions about implants. In reaching conclusions, the committee reviews:




The history of the silicone breast implant and the development of its chemistry.
The wide variety of U.S.-made implants and their regulation by the Food and Drug Administration.
Frequency and consequences of local complications from implants.
The evidence for and against links between implants and autoimmune disorders, connective tissue disease, neurological problems, silicone in breast milk, or a proposed new syndrome.
Evidence that implants may be associated with lower frequencies of breast cancer.


Safety of Silicone Breast Implants provides a comprehensive, well-organized review of the science behind one of the most significant medical controversies of our time.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1 Introduction
2 Silicone Chemistry
3 Implant Catalogue
4 Silicone Toxicology
5 Reoperations and Specific Local and Perioperative Complications
6 Immunology of Silicone
7 Antinuclear Antibodies and Silicone Breast Implants
8 Epidemiological Studies of Connective Tissue or Rheumatic Diseases and Breast Implants
9 Silicone Breast Implants and Cancer
10 Neurological Disease and Its Association with Silicone Breast Implants
11 Effects on Pregnancy, Lactation, and Children
12 Silicone Implants and Breast Imaging
Reference Lists
Appendix A: Brief Description of the Scientific Workshop
Appendix B: Description of the Public Meeting
Appendix C: Review of the Reports of the Independent Review Group and the National Science Panel
Appendix D: Glossary
Index