Secondary breast lymphoma with differentiated clinical presentation

Abstract

Lymphomas are considered systemic diseases, and may be classified as nodal or extranodal, depending on their origin. The estimated incidence rate by José Alencar Gomes da Silva National Cancer Insti- tute (INCA), Brazil, in 2014 of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphomas (HL) was 4,850 cases and 880 cases in women, respectively. Breast lymphomas are rare types of extranodal lymphoma, constituting 0.4 to 0.7% of breast cancers and approximately 1.0 to 2.0% of all lympho- mas. A case of a 32-year-old patient with secondary breast lymphoma with differentiated clinical presentation was reported. Examination showed diffuse swelling, pain and hyperemia of the breast skin simulating mastitis. The diagnosis was made through immunohistochemical study of fragment obtained through core biopsy. The patient was referred to specialized treatment center in oncology and hematology. The aim of this report was to highlight the importance of diagnosing this rare pathology, with unusual clinical presentation, in order to avoid inappropriate treatments that may worsen the prognosis of the disease.