Primary lymphoma of the breast - Breast mass as an initial symptom

Seven patients with lymphoma presenting as a breast mass are described. Fou r of them fulfilled the criteria for primary lymphoma of the breast, and th ree had evidence of secondary lymphoma of the breast. Two patients were dia gnosed with stage IAE disease, and both did well with local treatment with or without chemotherapy. Two patients were diagnosed with stage IIAE diseas e; both had distant failure without systemic chemotherapy. Although local t reatment is curative in a subset of stage IAE disease, combination chemothe rapy followed by local radiation is a safer approach. For stage IIAE diseas e, combination chemotherapy and local radiation therapy should be considere d.