Primary malignant lymphoma of the breast: imaging characteristics and correlation with histopathologic findings / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the mammographic characteristics of primary lymphoma of the breast and to correlate the imaging features with the histopathologic findings.Methods We retrospectively reviewed records in 27 patients with histologically proven primary malignant lymphoma of the breast.Mmammography was performed before surgery in 14 cases.The clinical, pathologic, and imaging features were retrospectively reviewed and correlated in these 14 patients.All patients were female, with the mean age of 41.5 years (range 28-56).The lesion was in the right breast in 7 patients, the left in 6, and bilateral in 1.Results Histology revealed 13 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and 1 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).In primary lymphoma, mammography revealed a unilateral solitary mass in 9 cases, unilateral multiple masses in 2 cases, bilateral multiple masses in 1 case, and unilateral diffusely increased opacity with skin thickening in 2 cases.The diameter of the masses ranged from 0.7 cm to 5.0 cm (mean 2.6 cm). Of the total 18 masses, the margins of the masses were well defined in 13, and partially defined in 5.Neither calcifications nor spiculations nor adjacent skin retraction were seen.Of the 13 NHL, histologic examination showed diffuse NHL in 12 cases and follicular NHL in 1.No mammographic features were identified that could helped distinguish follicular from diffuse NHL.Conclusion Primary lymphoma of the breast usually presents with clinical and mammographic findings mimicking a carcinoma or benign tumor.Although the clinical and imaging characteristics may suggest the possibility of breast NHL, none of the findings are pathognomonic.The final diagnosis depends on histopathology.