Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the female breast: A report of two cases

Background: The female breast is a rare location of extranodal non-Hodgkin' s lymphoma (primary breast lymphoma). Most lymphomas of the breast are unil ateral, diffuse, large B-cell lesions. Case reports: We describe two women with primary non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphom a of the breast. Neither had a history of other malignancies. The first pat ient was 73 years old and had mammography and frozen-section histology find ings interpreted as invasive carcinoma. Mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection were performed. Histology of the paraffin-embedded specimens sho wed nodular breast involvement of PBL. Polychemotherapy (CHOP regimen) was administered and the patient is in complete remission. The second patient w as 67 years old and presented with erythema and swelling of the breast. Inf lammatory carcinoma was suspected. Mammography showed a large solid mass wi th microcalcifications. A large-core biopsy showed primary breast lymphoma. Four cycles of CHOP therapy induced a partial remission and the patient is now scheduled for radiation therapy. Conclusion: At imaging studies there are no findings pathognomonic of NHL o f the breast. Gallium-67 scintigraphy may be useful. Frozen-section histolo gy is unreliable for diagnosing lymphoma of the breast. The prognosis is as sociated with the stage of the disease and the age of the patient.