Lymphoma of the breast: clinical and radiologic features with pathologic correlation in 28 patients

The objective of this study was to determine the clinical and radiologic findings of lymphoma involving the breast, separately evaluating primary and secondary forms. We retrospectively reviewed the medical reports of 28 patients with lymphoma of the breast: 12 patients with primary lymphoma and 16 with secondary lymphoma. In primary lymphoma, mammography revealed a solitary mass (58.3%), multiple unilateral masses (8.3%), unilateral diffuse involvement (25%), and bilateral diffuse involvement (8.3%). The margins of masses were irregular (50%), partially defined (37.5%), and well defined (12.5%). The mean diameter of the masses was 4.6 cm. In secondary lymphoma, mammography revealed multiple masses (56.2%), solitary masses (12.5%), and diffuse unilateral breast involvement (31.2%). Their margins were irregular (18.1%), partially defined (27.2%), and well-defined (54.5%). The mean diameter of the masses was 2.8 cm. Cytologic examination (n = 13) was demonstrative of lymphomatous involvement in all cases. We observed an association between high-grade types of malignancy and a diffuse pattern of radiologic breast involvement. Masses in primary disease tended to have less-defined margins and greater diameters than those observed in secondary cases. Cytologic examination proved to be a useful diagnostic procedure in the evaluation of secondary disease. The involvement of the breast in extranodal lymphomas does not seem to affect the prognosis of the disease.