Sydney, Apr 5 (IANS): A rising number of cases of ruptured PIP breast implants among Australian women are coming to light, with nearly 50 new cases reported in March pushing the tally to 220.

According to Australia's regulatory agency for medical drugs and devices -- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), there have now been 220 confirmed cases of the faulty implants rupturing, and 31 unconfirmed cases, the Australian reported Thursday.

This is up from 171 confirmed and 26 unconfirmed cases a month ago.

It comes after authorities found French company Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) used industrial rather than medical-grade silicon gel.

Between 300,000 and 400,000 women in 65 countries are believed to have PIP breast implants, with about 6,000 of those in Australia.

The Australian government has advised that routine removal of the implants is unnecessary when there is no evidence of rupture.

The TGA says its testing of the implants to date has not found any evidence that the risks are higher in PIP implants than any other silicone gel-filled brand.