PRIMARY BREAST LYMPHOMA PRESENTING AS LOCALLY ADVANCED BREAST CANCER

A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Hematopoietic diseases can be found in the breast and mimic a mammary neoplasm, such as leukemia and/or lymphoma. Although lymphomas are considered lymph node tumors, 25-40% have extranodal sites. Primary lymphomas of the breast represent 0.1-0.5% of all breast neoplasms and may have primary or secondary origin. Primary lymphomas normally start in the breast without involvement of other sites. The diagnosis is made through physical and pathological examination. We report a 77-year-old female who had a locally advanced mass in the right breast associated with inflammatory signs and symptoms and with palpable axillary lymph nodes. The imaging tests were non-specific and didn’t help the diagnosis. The pathology report revealed a diffuse, B-cell lymphoma infiltrating the breast (lymphoma non-Hodgkin’s). Due to the rarity of the case, and the unknown pathogenesis systemic chemotherapy with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) regime were performed. The use of rituximab, as well as radiotherapy, remain controversial in the literature, but for some authors the radiotherapy is indicated with a total dose of 30 to 45 GY. Our patient performed radiotherapy of the breast and axilla. Because of total remission of the disease, it was not necessary complementary treatment or breast surgery.