Primary breast lymphoma in a male patient

Breast. 2004 Oct;13(5):436-8. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2003.11.002.

Abstract

Primary lymphoma of the male breast is extremely rare. We report a case of a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in a male patient. A 67-year-old man presented with a palpable mass in the right breast and ipsilateral axillary lymphadenopathy. At operation a 6 x 5 x 4-cm mass was excised, and a frozen section demonstrated malignancy. A modified radical mastectomy was then performed, together with axillary lymph node clearance. Histological examination established the diagnosis of a primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast. The patient was referred for chemotherapy and died a year later from systemic disease involving the adrenals. The importance of early diagnosis is emphasized; this should be based on an excisional biopsy or aspiration cytology. As patients with primary breast lymphoma (PBL) have a better prognosis than those with carcinoma of the breast or patients with extranodal lymphomas, a multidisciplinary approach including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy when needed would result in a more favorable outcome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / therapy
  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms, Male / pathology*
  • Breast Neoplasms, Male / therapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / therapy
  • Male
  • Mastectomy