[Primary lymphomas of the breast. 9 case reports]

Between the 1st of January 1974 and the 30th of June 1989, we saw 9 cases of primary lymphoma of the breast at the Oscar Lambret Centre, all occurring in women. This comprised 0.27% of the malignant tumours of the breast and 3.2% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas. 8 occurred on the right side and 1 on the left. There were multiple tumours in 5 cases. The clinical findings were always suggestive of a malignant condition and so were the mammography findings in 6 cases. Two patients had total mastectomy. In the other cases, the diagnosis was made (twice) by biopsy or by lumpectomy (5 cases). Using Kiel-Lennert's classification: 5 were highly malignant and 4 of low grade malignancy (using the Working Formulation, three were moderate and 4 were intermediate; 1 was very high grade and 1 intermediate or high). Treatment changed a lot during the period under consideration. Five patients are still alive without any recurrence. One died of lymphoma and two died of intercurrent causes and one died of unknown causes.