Primary diffuse B-cell non-Hodgkin's breast lymphoma; A case report with a brief literature review

Primary non-Hodgkin's breast lymphoma is a very rare entity. The present study aims to report a case of primary diffuse B-cell non-Hodgkin's breast lymphoma.

A 55-year-old female presented with a right breast mass for a duration of 4 months. There was no history of cancer in her family. She has had umbilical hernial repair two years before this presentation. Examination revealed the presence of a suspicious mass in the right breast and multiple axillary lymph nodes. Ultrasound showed a rounded vascular mass (46*40mm) and pathological axillary lymph nodes, U5. Mammography showed a round, dense mass with an indistinct posterior margin and a few round axillary lymph nodes, M4. A Core needle biopsy was done which showed an invasive mammary carcinoma; the result of the FNA of the axillary lymph nodes was benign lymphoid tissue. Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of a tumor, sized 6.4cm, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Modified radical mastectomy was performed. The histopathological examination confirmed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

There are two main groups of primary breast lymphoma. The bilateral diffuse-type affects the younger puerperal women associated with pregnancy or recent childbirth that may involve the CNS, ovaries, and gastrointestinal tract without lymph node involvement. The second type, the unilateral type, which appears in elderly women without extra mammary involvement.

Primary breast non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a rare disease. It mimics breast cancer, and hence, may lead to misdiagnosis. The common modalities of treatment include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery.