Primary follicular and marginal-zone lymphoma of the breast: clinical features, prognostic factors and outcome: a study by the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group

Primary MALT lymphoma of the breast: pathological and radiological characteristics

PURPOSE

Primary Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a rare diagnosis in the breast, and clinical diagnosis based on radiological features is often challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological, and radiological characteristics of the patients diagnosed with primary breast MALT lymphoma.

METHODS

This study examined 18 cases of primary MALT lymphoma of the breast diagnosed at a single tertiary center between January 2002 to December 2020. Medical charts, radiological imaging and original pathology slides were reviewed for each case.

RESULTS

All cases were female (gender assigned at birth) and presented with a palpable mass or an incidental imaging finding. Imaging presentation ranged from mammographic asymmetries, circumscribed masses, and ultrasound masses lacking suspicious features. Seventeen cases were biopsied under ultrasound; one received a diagnostic excision biopsy. Microscopic examination of the breast specimens demonstrated atypical small lymphocyte infiltration with plasmacytoid differentiation and rare lymphoepithelial lesions. Immunohistochemistry was performed in all cases and established the diagnosis. Most patients were treated with radiotherapy, and only three were treated with chemotherapy. The median follow-up period was 4 years and 7.5 months, and all patients were alive at the last follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Primary MALT breast lymphomas are usually indolent and non-systemic, and local radiotherapy may effectively alleviate local symptoms. Radiological findings show overlap with benign morphological features, which can delay the diagnosis of this unusual etiology. Although further studies involving a larger cohort could help establish the clinical and radiological characteristics of primary breast MALT lymphomas, pathology remains the primary method of diagnosis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

University Health Network Ethics Committee (CAPCR/UHN REB number 19-5844), retrospectively registered.

A rare case of primary breast lymphoma presenting as calcifications on screening mammography

Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (EMZL) is a low-grade subtype of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that can affect any mucosal tissue, most commonly the GI tract. Primary involvement of the breast, known as primary breast lymphoma (PBL), is a very rare manifestation. We report an unusual case of a 65-year-old woman with primary breast EMZL presenting as calcifications discovered during screening mammography. This represents an exceedingly atypical appearance of primary breast lymphoma that is rarely described in the literature.

Breast mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, also known as extranodal marginal zone lymphoma, is more commonly detected in the stomach and rarely in the breast. Our study presented a clinical and pathological examination of a patient diagnosed with breast MALT lymphoma, supplemented with pertinent research, to offer guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

PEOPLE CONCERNS

The occurrence of breast MALT lymphoma has risen in the past decade, but its etiology, progression and treatment response are less well-studied.

DIAGNOSIS

Breast MALT lymphoma was diagnosed by excisional biopsy and histopathology.

INTERVENTIONS

Following breast MALT lymphoma diagnosis, the patient was transferred to the hematology department for further treatment, and she made the decision to continue observing.

OUTCOMES

After 3 months of observation, the patient remained asymptomatic.

CONCLUSION

Breast MALT lymphoma is an indolent disease with an asymptomatic presentation, There are no standardized treatment guidelines for breast MALT lymphoma, treatment must be tailored to the patient willingness to treat and the severity of the disease. Hence, in order to give patients a better chance of cure, more research is needed to explore its pathogenesis and more clinical trials are needed investigate the treatment of this disease.

Primary Lymphoma of Breast: A Population-Base Outcome Analysis

The majority of neoplasms of the breast are derived from epithelial components and give rise to carcinoma, namely invasive ductal and lobular carcinoma of the breast. Unlike carcinomas, primary hematolymphoid malignancies of the breast are a rare group of malignant neoplasms. Due to their rarity, these patients' epidemiological features and outcomes have not been studied well. A few limited case series and case reports suggest that this group of heterogeneous neoplasms has female predominance and poor prognosis. However, no systematic study exists to date. In order to bridge this knowledge gap, the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results databases have been quarried and analyzed to investigate the epidemiological and outcome features of primary hematolymphoid malignancies of the breast. This study is one of the first efforts to establish a systematic understanding of the demographic characteristics and the survival features of this rare group of malignancies.

Surgical Excision Versus Medical Management of Primary Breast Lymphoma: A Case Report

Lymphoma of the breast accounts for 0.4-0.5% of all breast-located cancers and is found in a similar fashion to breast cancers. Here we present a 74-year-old woman who presented for a biopsy of a breast mass found on a routine mammogram, which was found to be a primary breast lymphoma. According to current practice guidelines, medical therapy is favorable for the definitive management of primary breast lymphomas. However, biopsy specimen cytology found neoplastic cells positive for human germinal center-associated lymphoma, a nonspecific marker for various types of lymphomas. Without a definitive classification of lymphoma, optimal medical therapy could not be achieved. Therefore, a decision was made to undergo a lumpectomy of the mass, which yielded a specimen that was found pathologically favorable for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. With this information, the patient was referred to follow-up oncology for adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Clinical prognostic risk analysis and progression factor exploration of primary breast lymphoma

PURPOSE

: A primary breast lymphomais a rare form of extranodal lymphoma type. We aimed to analyze prognosticriskfactors and explore relapse factors in primary breast diffuse large B cell lymphoma (PB-DLBCL).

METHODS

: From November 2003 to September 2020, sixty-three patients from two medical centers newly diagnosed with PB-DLBCL patients were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

: The median age was 52, and >50% of patients were post-menopausal. The international prognostics index (IPI) (0-1) was mainlyin the low-risk group (84%), and there were four patients with stage IV (6%) who had bilateral breast involvement. With a median follow-up time of 4.92 years (3.17-8.00), five-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 78.9% and 67.1%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and B symptoms were independent adverse prognostic risk factors for OS, whereas bilateral breast involvement was unfavorable for PFS. Disease recurrence and relapse occurred in 40% (25/63) patients, mainly in the breast, followed by the central nervous system (CNS) and skin/soft tissue.

CONCLUSION

: This is the first study to explore the prognostic risk factors and relapse factorsof PB-DLBCL in a relatively large Chinese PBL cohort. Local breast and CNS recurrence after standard R-CHOP treatment were the main issues we are facing now.

The prognostic value of IPI in patients with primary breast lymphoma, a multicenter retrospective study

Background

Due to the rarity of PBL and the lack of large-scale studies, the prognostic value of IPI in PBL was controversial. Especially in the rituximab era, the ability of IPI to stratify prognosis in patients receiving immunochemotherapy was severely reduced. Then revised IPI (R-IPI) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network IPI (NCCN-IPI) were introduced. The present study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of IPI and the other IPIs in patients with PBL in a Chinese population.

Methods

We performed a multicenter retrospective study of 71 patients with PBL from 3 institutions in China. The Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank tests were used for the survival analysis. Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic factors. Subgroup analysis was performed to assess the prognostic significance of IPI scores, R-IPI scores, and NCCN-IPI scores.

Results

The median follow-up was 4.7 years (0.7–21.8 years). The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 90.2% and 96.3%. In the multivariate analysis, only IPI scores and radiotherapy were significantly associated with OS and PFS (P < 0.05). Applying the R-IPI in our patient cohort indicates a significant difference in PFS between the two groups of R-IPI (P = 0.034) but not for OS (P = 0.072). And the NCCN-IPI was prognostic for OS (P = 0.025) but not for PFS (P = 0.066). Subgroup analyses of IPI showed that survival analysis of IPI scores for the PFS and OS of patients using rituximab were not significantly different (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Our study confirms the prognostic value of IPI in patients with PBL, but the predictive value of IPI proved to be relatively low with the addition of the rituximab. The R-IPI and NCCN-IPI can accurately assess the high and low-risk groups of PBL patients but were insufficient to evaluate the intermediate risk group.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-022-02772-y.

A rare case of synchronous mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma involving bilateral breasts and subcutaneous tissues

Marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue is a B-cell lymphoma which arises in extranodal sites, most commonly the stomach. Involvement of the breast is very rare. We present a case of an asymptomatic 63-year-old woman with synchronous mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma involving both breasts and subcutaneous tissues. This represents a form of secondary breast lymphoma (given the concurrent involvement of the breast and non-mammary organ systems) and is an exceedingly rare diagnosis which, to our knowledge, has only been discussed in a few case series.

Primary Lymphomas of the Breast: A Review

Lymphomas of the breast are rare neoplasms that arise from breast lymphoid tissue and are characterised by neoplastic B or T cells. Breast lymphomas arising from B cells include, but are not limited to, diffuse large B cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, extra-nodal marginal zone lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is of a T cell origin and both anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive and ALK-negative presentations have been noted in the breast. In addition, there is a more recently identified presentation of ALK-negative ALCL that arises around textured breast implants and is usually confined to a periprosthetic fibrous capsule. Here, we discuss the clinical presentations, histological and immunohistochemical features and treatment options for each type of primary breast lymphoma. We hope that this review will highlight the importance of the timely and accurate diagnosis of breast lymphoma in order to tailor the most appropriate treatment. We also wish to raise awareness of the breast implant-associated lymphomas, with the goal of stimulating work that will aid our understanding of their epidemiology and pathogenesis.

Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma Presenting as a Breast Lump: A Rare Presentation of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Approximately one-fourth of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) present with an extranodal origin. Primary and secondary involvements of the breast by lymphoma are rare because of the paucity of lymphoid tissue in the breast. Primary breast small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) typically presents as a manifestation of widespread chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). A 58-year-old female presented to our clinic with a palpable breast mass. She had no cytopenias and her absolute peripheral B lymphocyte count was less than 5000/microL. The mass was biopsied and histology with immunohistochemistry showed neoplastic cells positive for CD23 and CD5 confirming the diagnosis of small B cell lymphocytic lymphoma of the breast. Further imaging revealed extensive mediastinal and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. Histopathology of bone marrow biopsy revealed diffuse infiltration with SLL. The patient was treated with six cycles of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR) with excellent clinical response. To our knowledge, this is the first case of SLL infiltration of the breast without CLL treated successfully with FCR.

A single-center analysis of patients with extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of the breast

Breast extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (EMZL) is a rare malignancy. We performed the largest published to date single-center retrospective analysis of 13 patients with breast EMZL focusing on clinical characteristics and treatment-related outcomes. The rarity of this disease at our center was concordant with the prevalence reported in the literature, with breast EMZL comprising 2% of 654 MZL cases. Most patients presented with stage I-II disease however four (30.8%) patients had stage IV disease mostly due to occult bone marrow (BM) involvement. Interestingly, EMZL was frequently non-FDG avid (66.7%) on staging PET/CT. With a median follow-up of 3.1 years (range 5 months to 10.2 years), the 3-year progression free survival was 68.7% (95%CI 30.2%-88.9%) and overall survival 80.2% (95%CI 40.3%-94.8%). No patient experienced higher-grade transformation. Herein we show that localized breast EMZL can be effectively treated with radiation therapy providing long term disease control.

Conventional Treatments Cannot Improve Outcomes of Early-Stage Primary Breast Marginal Zone Lymphoma

Introduction

Primary breast marginal zone lymphoma (PBMZL) is a rare occurrence and less is known about its characteristics, treatments, and outcomes.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 370 cases of early-stage PBMZL from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Statistical analyses were performed to describe clinical features, determine prognostic factors, and compare different therapeutic strategies.

Results

At a median follow-up of 68.5 months, the 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rate were 81.2 and 95.4%, respectively. We divided the cohort into four treatment groups and compared their characteristics and survival: radiotherapy (RT) ± surgery (Sx) (n = 142, 38.4%), Sx alone (n = 71, 19.2%), any chemotherapy (CT) (n = 63, 17.0%), and none of the above (n = 94, 25.4%). Age of onset and laterality of lesions tended to relate to the choice of different treatments. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that advanced age (>60 years), concomitant tumor, and any CT (vs RT ± Sx) predicted poorer OS, while for DSS, there was no meaningful indicator (P > 0.05). Patients aged >60 years or treated with any CT seemed to have shorter DSS, but the difference only approached statistical significance. Then we applied a propensity score-matched analysis to demonstrate that neither RT- nor Sx-containing therapy could bring a better OS or DSS. The competing risk model suggested that CT was the only contributor to higher PBMZL-specific mortality.

Conclusion

Our results show an indolent behavior of early-stage PBMZL with long-term survival. Conventional oncological treatments fail to bring survival benefits; especially CT is detrimental to survival, suggesting that observation may be advisable in the management of early-stage PBMZL, and further research on novel targeted agents is warranted for patients in need.

Primary Breast Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma in Primary Sjögren Syndrome: Case Presentation and Relevant Literature

The association between autoimmune diseases, mostly rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, celiac disease and Sjögren syndrome, and lymphoma, has been widely demonstrated by several epidemiologic studies. By a mechanism which has not yet been entirely elucidated, chronic activation/stimulation of the immune system, along with the administration of specific treatments, may lead to the onset of different types of lymphoma in such patients. Specifically, patients affected by Sjögren syndrome may develop lymphomas many years after the original diagnosis. Several epidemiologic, hematologic, and histological features may anticipate the progression from Sjögren syndrome into lymphoma but, to the best of our knowledge, a definite pathogenetic mechanism for such progression is still missing. In fact, while the association between Sjögren syndrome and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, mostly extranodal marginal zone lymphomas and, less often, diffuse large B-cell, is well established, many other variables, such as time of onset, gender predilection, sites of occurrence, subtype of lymphoma, and predictive factors, still remain unclear. We report on a rare case of primary breast lymphoma occurring three years after the diagnosis of Sjögren syndrome in a 57-year-old patient. The diagnostic work-up, including radiograms, core needle biopsy, and histological examination, is discussed, along with emerging data from the recent literature, thus highlighting the usefulness of breast surveillance in Sjögren syndrome patients.

CD10-Negative Primary Breast Follicular Lymphoma: A Rare Case of Primary Breast Lymphoma With an Atypical Immunophenotype Mimicking Marginal Zone Lymphoma

In this article, we report the case of a 78-year-old woman who consulted our hospital for a right breast mass detected on mammography during her cancer screening. Biopsy specimens showed atypical lymphocytic infiltration with a follicle-like growth pattern, suggesting a follicular lymphoma (FL). Immunohistochemically, the atypical lymphoid cells were diffusely and strongly positive for CD20, BCL2, and BCL6, but negative for CD10. IGH-BCL2 translocation was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis, leading to the diagnosis of primary breast FL. The most important differential diagnosis of this case was marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), which usually shows a CD10^-/BCL2⁺ immunophenotype and is one of the common histological types in primary breast lymphomas. FLs with an atypical immunophenotype exist in a certain percentage of patients. Therefore, FL is considered to be a heterogeneous entity. It is important to distinguish FL from MZL in primary breast lymphomas because FLs may have a worse prognosis than MZLs.

Bilateral Primary Marginal Zone Lymphoma of the Breast - A Rare Breast Malignancy

Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (EMZL) presents only rarely within the breast, although the incidence of breast EMZL has increased in the past decade for unclear reasons. Due to its rarity, the etiology, course, and treatment response of this cancer are less studied. Case Report: We present the case of a 64-year-old female who had bilateral diffuse irregularity in a trabecular pattern on screening mammogram. Random ultrasound-guided breast biopsy of the right breast demonstrated an extra-nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma. She also had approximately 25% marrow involvement by mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type marginal zone lymphoma and splenomegaly. Clinically she remained asymptomatic during a 1-year follow-up. Although she presented with advanced-stage disease involving both breasts, spleen and bone marrow, given her lack of associated symptoms, she was observed with active surveillance. Conclusion: Asymptomatic cases of breast EMZL can be managed with close observation as exemplified by our case.

Combination of baseline total metabolic tumor volume measured on FDG-PET/CT and β2-microglobulin have a robust predictive value in patients with primary breast lymphoma

The aim was to build a prognostic model to stratify patients at diagnosis into different risk categories. We investigated the prognostic value of functional PET parameters and clinical features in 64 primary breast lymphoma (PBL) patients. With a median follow-up of 60 months, 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was 62.5% and 73.4%. In multivariate analysis, baseline total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV0) and β2-microglobulin remained more reliable predictors of survival than other prognostic factors. The optimal TMTV0 cut-off value was 90 cm³ . Among 29 patients with high TMTV0, 5-year PFS and OS were 44.8% and 62.1%, respectively, while 5-year PFS and OS of 35 patients with low TMTV0 were 74.3% and 85.7%, respectively. TMTV0 combined with β2-microglobulin identified three groups with very different prognosis, including low-risk group with low TMTV0 and β2-microglobulin≤normal (n = 30), intermediate-risk group with high TMTV0 or β2-microglobulin>normal (n = 20), and high-risk group with high TMTV0 and β2-microglobulin>normal (n = 14). In the three groups, 5-year PFS rates were 80%, 55% and 28.6% (P = .003), and 5-year OS rates were 90%, 65%, and 50% (P = .023) respectively. We established a new prognostic model through TMTV0 and β2-microglobulin, and can divide PBL at diagnosis into different risk categories.

Radiological analysis of breast lymphoma: Experiences from cases series studies

This retrospective study aimed to improve the diagnostic accuracy of breast lymphoma (BL) by analyzing the findings of BL on mammography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Fifteen patients with breast lymphoma (BL, Primary/Secondary: 13/2) were confirmed by pathology. The imaging findings of those patients were analyzed by 2 senior radiologists.BL commonly showed significant enhancement with penetrating vessels and septation in masses on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI). Diffusion limitation of BL is more pronounced than breast cancer on diffusion weighted imaging.The study suggests that the penetrating vessels and diffusion restriction of lesions are helpful for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of BL.

Emerging Treatment Strategies for Primary Breast Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma of Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue

INTRODUCTION

We report our experience in treating patients with primary breast extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) to better elucidate the natural history and optimal treatment approach for these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with localized primary breast MALT lymphoma treated between 1995 and 2016 were included. Disease-related endpoints including progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Eleven patients met inclusion criteria; all patients were women with a median age of 62 years (range, 42-75 years). Most (73%) patients presented with stage I disease, and most (73%) patients were treated initially treated with radiation therapy (RT). Local control following RT was 100%; all patients with progression following RT experienced distant relapse. Additionally, none of the 3 patients treated with ultra-low-dose RT (4 Gy) experienced subsequent progression (local or distant). Six (55%) patients progressed after initial therapy, of whom 5 received initial RT; the 5-year PFS after initial therapy was 60%. Salvage systemic therapy was utilized in all patients with progression, with 5 of 6 patients receiving single-agent rituximab. Of the patients treated with salvage therapy, only 1 experienced second relapse, with a 5-year PFS of 100% after salvage systemic therapy. With a median follow-up of 8 years, there were no deaths in the cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with primary breast MALT lymphoma achieve excellent outcomes. Initial RT affords local control, and although subsequent distant progression is common, salvage rituximab yields high rates of PFS.

Hematologic Malignancies of the Breast: A Contemporary Series Investigating Incidence, Presentation, Accuracy of Diagnosis on Core Needle Biopsy, and Hormone Receptor Expression

Background

Distinguishing breast hematologic malignancies in core needle biopsies from other entities can be challenging. Misclassification as a breast carcinoma could result in inappropriate treatment. The aim of this study was to characterize the types, incidence, and helpful diagnostic features of hematologic malignancies of the breast.

Design

All hematologic malignancies of the breast diagnosed at our institution from 2004 to 2017 were identified. Clinical notes, imaging, and slides were reviewed. Immunohistochemical analysis of estrogen receptor α (ERα), estrogen receptor β (ERβ), and androgen receptor (AR) was performed when tissue was available.

Results

In all, 43 hematologic malignancies from biopsies of 37 women and 6 men were identified. Core needle biopsies (35 or 81%) were more common than excisions (8 or 19%). For 14 patients (40%), the core biopsy was the first diagnosis of a hematologic malignancy. Diagnoses included 37 lymphomas (7 primary), 4 leukemias, and 2 myelomas. There was 1 misdiagnosis of carcinoma. Low positivity for hormone receptors was observed in a minority of lymphomas. A definitive diagnosis of hematologic malignancy was made in 31 (89%) of the core needle biopsies. Only 3 patients undergoing core biopsy required excision for diagnosis.

Conclusions

Most of the hematologic malignancies of the breast are currently diagnosed on core needle biopsy and 40% of patients do not have a prior history. To avoid errors, pathologists need to be aware of diagnostic features and morphologic mimics. A hematologic malignancy should be considered if tumor cells are discohesive, carcinoma in situ is absent, and hormone expression is low or absent.

Primary breast lymphoma: A single-centre experience

BACKGROUND

Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma is an extremely rare entity, and this condition represents less than 0.5% of all malignant lesions involving the mammary gland. As such, there has been a paucity of relevant clinical data arising from Southeast Asia.

AIMS

Our study aims to review the clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, treatment, and survival outcomes of all patients diagnosed with primary breast lymphoma in our institution between 2011 and 2017.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients who had histologically proven lymphoma involving the breast were identified from a prospectively collected database in a single institution between 2011 and 2017. All seven patients were female, with a median age of 65 years old, and had presented with unilateral large breast or axillary masses. All the histological diagnosis was achieved with adequate tissue diagnosis either through core, incisional, or excisional biopsy. Five patients had diffuse large B cell lymphoma, one had marginal zone lymphoma, and the other had follicular lymphoma. Based on Ann Arbor classification, one patient had stage 1, three had stage 2, one with stage 3, and two patients with stage 4 disease. Five patients had received standard CHOP regimen with rituximab. At the time of analysis, patients who had nondisseminated disease had a median survival of 57 months. The overall mean survival time for all seven patients was 47 months. With the standard systemic chemotherapy treatment regimen, the estimated 3-year overall survival was found to be 64%.

CONCLUSION

Primary breast lymphoma, though uncommon, may present in a similar manner as breast carcinomas, but the main treatment modality remains nonsurgical with systemic chemotherapy. Hence, it is prudent to obtain accurate histological diagnosis of primary breast lymphoma. In this study, our patients with nondisseminated breast lymphoma have demonstrated a fairly good survival outcome following chemotherapy.

Primary extranodal lymphoma of the glands. Literature review and options for best practice in 2019

Primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (EN-NHL) are a heterogeneous group of malignancies that involve numerous entities with significant difference in terms of tumor site locations, prognostic factors, biology expression, and therapeutic options. In the literature, many EN-NHL types were reported from limited series which only allowed narrow views for elucidating prognostic factors and defining the role of loco-regional therapies in the era of new systemic and biologically targeted therapies. The Rare Cancer Network (RCN), an international multidisciplinary consortium, has published a number of reports on several EN-NHL sites which included many gland locations. In this review, we will focus on the recent literature for a selected number of EN-NHL types in both exocrine and endocrine gland locations. We aim to provide renewed and clear messages for the best practice in 2019 for diagnosis, histopathology, treatments, and also their prognostic implications. We believe that better understanding of molecular and genetic characteristics of these particular diseases is crucial for an appropriate management in the era of personalized treatment developments.

Coincident primary breast lymphoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor: case series and molecular mechanisms

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is an uncommon mesenchymal tumor, and has been shown to be associated with synchronous or metachronous second malignancies. Rare cases of coincident GIST and non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) have been reported previously. Here, we report two cases of GIST and coincident primary breast lymphoma, an uncommon subtype of extranodal NHL. We propose that the exceedingly low likelihood of both these cancers occurring in these two patients by chance warrants examination for possible common oncogenic pathways in these lesions, possibly involving shared anti-apoptotic mechanisms. Further research is vital to elucidate common oncogenic pathways between such rare lesions.

Clinico-radiologic features and management of hematological tumors in the breast: a case series

Hematological tumors arising in the breast are uncommon and require different treatment modalities dependent upon tumor type. Current treatment options include surgical excision, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Management of these breast malignancies are poorly outlined in the literature. The purpose of this case series is to report five cases consisting of extranodal marginal zone lymphoma, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, and extramedullary plasmacytoma occurring in the breast. The cases illustrate heterogeneous radiologic findings and varying management approaches to these tumors. The case series underscores the importance of having a wide differential at diagnosis and recognizes management of disease should be taken on an individual basis with consideration of prognosis and first-line treatment options.

Treatment of localized-stage follicular lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent lymphoma, and it most frequently presents in an advanced stage. Therapeutic considerations for advanced stage are different from those of localized-stage FL, in which radiotherapy (RT) is generally recommended. However, the available evidence suffers from shortcomings that are relatively specific to this clinical entity due to its rarity and long survival with all available treatment modalities, including that most of the existing evidence originated at a time when diagnostic classifications, staging procedures and radiotherapeutic standards were different from those available today and when anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies were not available. Available treatment modalities include observation, systemic therapy only, RT only and RT in combination with systemic therapy. We review the evidence available with each of them and the data from present-day clinical practice studies as well as briefly discuss what diagnostic and therapeutic developments may take place in the next few years.

Breast lymphoma occurring after an invasive ductal breast carcinoma developed in the same area: A case report and literature review

Chemo- and radiotherapy are treatments very helpful to cure cancers but are also well known for adverse effects such as secondary cancers. Breast cancers following Hodgkin lymphoma have been relatively well studied. Breast cancers after radiotherapy covering or nearby breasts or nipples are usually carcinomas or secondary sarcomas. Among the big cohort of patients treated for breast carcinomas, breast lymphomas developed in the same area are not usual. Nevertheless, published studies described a significant increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma after initial radiotherapy for a solid cancer. Here, we report a case of a secondary breast lymphoma observed in a 53-year-old woman treated 13 years before for a ductal carcinoma and analyse such second tumors with a review of the literature. This case report emphasizes the importance of the biopsy in case of recurrence in breast cancer to give the appropriate treatment.

Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Breast implant–associated anaplastic large T-cell lymphoma has recently been recognized as an entity, with few reports describing the two common subtypes: in situ (indolent) and infiltrative. Recently, the infiltrative subtypes have been shown to be more aggressive requiring adjuvant chemotherapy. We report a rare case of breast implant–associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) in a 65-year-old Caucasian female following silicone breast implantation and multiple capsulectomies. We discuss the rare presentation of this disease, histopathologic features of the indolent and infiltrative subtypes of ALCL, and their clinical significance. We also review the literature for up-to-date information on the diagnosis and clinical management. Treatment modalities including targeted therapy are also discussed. Although BIA-ALCL is rare, it should always be considered as part of the differential diagnosis especially in women with breast implants. Given the increasing rate of breast reconstruction and cosmetic surgeries, we anticipate a continuous rise in incidence rates of this rare disease; thus, caution must be taken to avoid misdiagnosis.

Diffuse Large B-Cell Breast Lymphoma: A Case Series

Primary breast lymphoma (PBL) is a rare disease, and few clinicohistopathologic features of the disease have been discussed in previous studies. It represents 2.2% of extranodal lymphomas and constitutes 0.04% to 0.5% of malignant breast neoplasms, despite the clinical and radiographic similarities between breast lymphoma and carcinoma, the prognosis, as reported in the literature, varies. No consensus exists on the best way to treat PBL. However, radiotherapy and chemotherapy were used alone or in combination to treat various cases of PBL. We retrospectively studied 3 cases of PBL of the breast seen in patients attending a tertiary cancer center in Qatar, between 2012 and 2015, in an attempt to determine the common clinical features, therapy, and prognosis of PBL.

[Leukemization of follicular lymphoma: The features of diagnostic and clinical course of a rare form of the disease]

AIM

To characterize a group of patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) with leukemization and to evaluate the efficiency of different therapy options (R-CHOP/R-FMC/high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT)).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

18 (7.2%) out of 250 patients diagnosed with FL, who were examined and treated at the National Research Center for Hematology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, were found to have leukemic FL (tumor cells in the peripheral blood smears were detected by cytology and flow cytofluorometry. Eight of the 18 patients had extranodal foci of involvement: lung, stomach, spleen, lumbar muscles, upper jaw, and vertebrae. Bone marrow was involved in 17 of the 18 patients. Tumor biopsy specimens displayed a morphological pattern of indolent FL in the majority of patients (10 of the 18 patients had cytological grade 1-2 tumors and 14 patients had a nodular or nodular-diffuse tumor growth pattern). The patients underwent R-CHOP/R-FMC) or HDCT cycles as first-line therapy, followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT).

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 66 months (range 12-217 months). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 70% (10% SEM) and 35% (15% SEM), respectively. The median OS was not reached; the median PFS was 3 years.

CONCLUSION

Leukemic FL is characterized by low OS and PFS rates. The most effective chemotherapy regimens were R-CHOP, followed by HDCT and auto-SCT in first remission or R-FMC. These cycles can to a greater extent achieve a complete eradication of the bone marrow tumor clone. Due to the relapsing course of FL and the aggressiveness of leukemic FL, it is expedient to carry out auto-SCT in first remission.

Primary Breast Lymphoma in the United States: 1975-2013

Background

Primary breast lymphoma (PBL) has gained attention with the description of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Less is known about PBL incidence, treatment, and survival by lymphoma subtype.

Methods

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry database was queried for patients with PBL as first malignancy, with attention to non-Hodgkin Lymphoma PBL subtypes: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), and ALCL. Incidence was estimated by age and subtype with joinpoint analyses, along with initial local therapy. Five-year relative and overall survival estimates were compared using z and two-sided log-rank tests.

Results

PBL incidence (per 1 000 000 women) increased from 0.66 (1975-1977) to 2.96 (2011-2013) with an annual percentage change (APC) of 5.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.8% to 6.9%, P <  .001) from 1975 to 1999 and no statistically significant change thereafter. Incidence continues to increase for women younger than age 50 years (APC = 2.8%, 95% CI = 1.0% to 4.6%, P = .003) and for ALCL-PBL (APC = 11.8%, 95% CI = 0.2% to 24.9%, P =  .047) and MZL-PBL (APC = 2.3%, 95% CI = -0.2% to 4.9%, P =  .07), with the latter increasing significantly from 1995 to 2013 (APC = 7.5%, 95% CI = 3.4% to 11.8%, P =  .001). Surgery and surgery with radiation declined from 2000 to 2013 as initial local therapy for PBL. Five-year relative survival for PBL improved markedly over four decades and was superior for stage I DLBCL-PBL and stage I follicular PBL than for corresponding systemic presentations.

Conclusions

PBL has increased in incidence over the last four decades and continues to increase for younger women and for some subtypes. The rise in imaging and procedures to the breast might enhance diagnostic sensitivity for PBL. Further study of the etiologies of PBL is needed.

Sites of extranodal involvement are prognostic in patients with stage 1 follicular lymphoma

Objectives

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent B cell lymphoma in the United States and a quarter of patients present with stage I disease. The objective of this study was to examine if primary site of disease influences survival in early stage lymphoma.

Results

The most common extranodal primary sites were the integumentary system (8%), followed by the GI tract (6.4%) and head & neck (5.6%). We stratified patients into a pre-rituximab era (1983-1998) and the rituximab era (1999-2011). In multivariable analysis, integumentary disease was associated with better overall survival (Hazard Ratio [HR], 0.77; Confidence Interval [CI], 0.66-0.9) while primary site FL of the nervous system (HR, 2.40; CI, 1.72-3.38) and the musculoskeletal system (HR, 2.14; CI, 1.44-3.18) were associated with worse overall survival when compared to primary nodal FL. Treatment in the pre-rituximab era, male gender and older age at diagnosis were associated with worse survival.

Methods

We queried the SEER database from 1983 to 2011. We included all adult patients (>18 years) with histologically confirmed stage I FL, active follow-up, and a single primary tumor. A total of 9,865 patients met eligibility criteria, with 2520 (25%) having an extranodal primary site. We classified the primary sites by organ or anatomic location into 11 sites.

Conclusion

Primary site of disease is a prognostic factor for patients with early stage FL and may help identify subsets of patients that could benefit from early, aggressive treatment.

Hematolymphoid lesions of the breast

Hematolymphoid malignancies of the breast are most commonly neoplasms of mature B-lymphocytes, and may arise as a primary disease or by secondary involvement of a systemic disease. Primary breast lymphomas (PBL) account for 0.04-0.5% of breast malignancies, less than 1% of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL), and less than 5% of extranodal lymphomas (Lakhani et al., 2012; Swerdlow et al., 2008; Joks et al., 2011; Barişta et al., 2000; Giardini et al., 1992; Brogi and Harris, 1999; Topalovski et al., 1999).^1-7 Secondary breast lymphomas (SBL) are also rare, with an estimated annual incidence of 0.07% (Domchek et al., 2002; Talwalkar et al., 2008).^8,9 Recognition of breast lesions as hematolymphoid is critical to distinguish them from other entities that can occur in the breast.

Clinical features and management of non-gastrointestinal non-ocular extranodal mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (ENMALT) marginal zone lymphomas

Extranodal mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (ENMALT) marginal zone lymphomas may arise at any site of the body. The most frequent localizations other than gastrointestinal and eye are salivary gland, skin, lung and thyroid. These lymphomas usually arise in a setting of inflammation due to a persistent infection or autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren syndrome in salivary MALT lymphomas and Hashimoto's thryroiditis in thyroid lymphomas. They affect middle-aged patients with a female predominance when lymphoma arises in certain locations. Patients often present with localised stage I or II although disseminated disease may be present at diagnosis or relapse in a third of the cases. Biopsy of the affected site is mandatory to establish the diagnosis and a full work-up staging is recommended. The clinical course is indolent and prognosis is good despite that recurrences following response to therapy are frequent. Surgery, radiotherapy and/or Rituximab based regimens are effective in these lymphomas.

Primary Breast Lymphoma: Analysis of 55 Cases of the Spanish Lymphoma Oncology Group

INTRODUCTION

Primary breast lymphoma is a rare form of localized extranodal lymphoma, which affects the mammary glands unilaterally or bilaterally, and can also affect the regional lymph nodes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed 55 patients, with disease stages IE and IIE, diagnosed in 16 Spanish institutions between 1989 and 2016. A serial of clinical variables and treatment were collected, and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated.

RESULTS

Of the 55 patients, 96.4% were women with an average age of 69 years. A total of 53 patients corresponded to non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), of whom 36.3% had lymph node involvement upon diagnosis. Of the patients, 58.2% were stage IE, and 41.8% were stage IIE. Treatments received included radiotherapy (36.3%), chemotherapy (85.5%), and rituximab (in 38 of the 45 patients with NHL treated with chemotherapy). In all, 82.2% of complete responses were achieved. OS and progression-free survival at 5 years in NHL patients was 76% and 73%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Current treatments (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy) achieve good control of the disease, with an OS of 5 years in 80% of the patients, although there is no consensus in treatment, given the scarce incidence of these lymphomas.

Marginal zone lymphoma of the breast-A diminished role for surgery

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Very sparse literature exists that describe the clinical profile of primary MZL of breast.

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Radiotherapy alone might cure an indolent lymphoma localized to breast (i.e. stage IE).

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5-yr survival rates of surgery are inferior to radiotherapy and chemo-radiation.

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Greater appreciation of the lesser role of surgery is warranted.

Introduction

Primary breast lymphoma by definition is localized to one or both the breasts with or without involvement of regional lymph nodes with no other extra mammary site involvement. Role of surgery in the treatment armamentarium is less well defined.

Presentation of case

A 62 year old post-menopausal lady was found to have 1.2 × 1.2 × 0.6 cm mass in the left breast on diagnostic mammography. Core needle biopsy reveals marginal zone lymphoma. Complete staging work-up was performed which was negative for regional spread and metastatic foci. She was diagnosed to have a localized stage IE extra nodal low grade marginal zone lymphoma of the MALT type involving breast. She received radiotherapy to the breast and is in remission at follow up after one year.

Discussion

Accurate diagnosis requires adequate tissue biopsy either by a core needle or a surgical biopsy for histopathologic evaluation and immunophenotyping. Immunohistochemically the tumors are positive for pan B-cell markers (CD 19, CD 20, CD22, and CD 79a) and lack T cell markers. For stage IE Marginal zone lymphoma radiotherapy alone and for stage IIE combined chemo-radiation offers the best possible control of the disease. Progression free survival for MZL is better than diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Conclusion

At present the best evidence support radiotherapy in localized disease and combined chemo-radiation in advanced disease. Role of surgery is minimal and is seen in case of diagnostic dilemma. Rarity of the diagnosis precludes large scale prospective studies making therapeutic decisions difficult and challenging.

[Clinical and prognostic analysis of 21 cases of primary breast lymphoma]

目的

探讨原发性乳腺淋巴瘤（PBL）患者临床特征及治疗方法对预后的影响。

方法

对2003年至2013年所收治的21例PBL患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。根据治疗方案的不同对患者进行分层分析，比较手术、预防性腰穿鞘注、利妥昔单抗应用对患者疗效和预后的影响。

结果

21例患者中6例行乳腺肿块穿刺活检术，2例行乳腺癌改良根治术，其余均行单纯乳腺肿块切除术后经病理学检查明确诊断。其中弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤（DLBCL) 17例，黏膜相关淋巴组织结外边缘区B细胞淋巴瘤（MALT淋巴瘤）、滤泡性淋巴瘤、Burkitt淋巴瘤、皮下脂膜炎样T细胞淋巴瘤各1例。所有患者中仅1例肿块直径>7 cm (MALT淋巴瘤患者），其余均<5 cm。治疗后完全缓解（CR)19例，部分缓解和疾病进展各1例。中位随访14(6~75)个月，21例患者中1例死亡，3年总生存（OS)率为92.3%。化疗+手术组(15例）患者的无进展生存（PFS)时间较单纯化疗组（6例）延长，差异有统计学意义（60个月对22个月，P=0.015），但两组患者的CR率和OS时间差异无统计学意义（P值均>0.05）。20例CD20阳性患者中接受利妥昔单抗治疗者17例，与未接受的3例比较，CR率和PFS、OS时间差异均无统计学意义（P值均>0.05）。8例患者接受预防性腰穿鞘注治疗，与13例未接受者比较，中枢神经系统浸润发生率差异无统计学意义(P=0.381)。

结论

PBL以DLBCL多见，治疗效果较好，手术治疗仅为明确诊断，并不延长患者OS时间。PBL患者行预防性腰穿鞘注治疗不降低中枢神经系统浸润发生率。

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma: two distinct clinicopathological variants with different outcomes

BACKGROUND

ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma associated with breast implant (i-ALCL) has been recently recognized as a distinct entity. Among 43 830 lymphomas registered in the French Lymphopath network since 2010, 300 breast lymphomas comprising 25 peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) were reviewed. Among PTCL, ALK-negative ALCL was the most frequent and all of them were associated with breast implants.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Since 2010, all i-ALCL cases were collected from different institutions through Lymphopath. Immuno-morphologic features, molecular data and clinical outcome of 19 i-ALCLs have been retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

The median age of the patients was 61 years and the median length between breast implant and i-ALCL was 9 years. Most implants were silicone-filled and textured. Implant removal was performed in 17 out of 19 patients with additional treatment based on mostly CHOP or CHOP-like chemotherapy regimens (n = 10/19) or irradiation (n = 1/19). CHOP alone or ABVD following radiation without implant removal have been given in two patients. The two clinical presentations, i.e. effusion and less frequently tumor mass correlated with distinct histopathologic features: in situ i-ALCL (anaplastic cell proliferation confined to the fibrous capsule) and infiltrative i-ALCL (pleomorphic cells massively infiltrating adjacent tissue with eosinophils and sometimes Reed-Sternberg-like cells mimicking Hodgkin lymphoma). Malignant cells were CD30-positive, showed a variable staining for EMA and were ALK negative. Most cases had a cytotoxic T-cell immunophenotype with variable T-cell antigen loss and pSTAT3 nuclear expression. T-cell receptor genes were clonally rearranged in 13 out of 13 tested cases. After 18 months of median follow-up, the 2-year overall survival for in situ and infiltrative i-ALCL was 100% and 52.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In situ i-ALCLs have an indolent clinical course and generally remain free of disease after implant removal. However, infiltrative i-ALCLs could have a more aggressive clinical course that might require additional therapy to implant removal.

The Present and Future Opportunities of the Rare Cancer Network: An International Consortium for Advancement of Oncologic Care

To date, the Rare Cancer Network (RCN) has initiated more than 90 studies and 54 peer-reviewed publications were produced as a result. The Second International Symposium of the Rare Cancer Network recently took place in Istanbul, Turkey on April 17-18, 2015, and update was given on multiple currently ongoing projects, while also giving room for new proposals which will shape the direction of future studies for the group. This companion issue of the RCN Proceedings summarized the findings of this meeting, while also serving as a call for fresh projects and papers which will continue to energize the group and advance the oncologic science. A brief introduction to the principles, history, and vision of the RCN was also included. To review, the academic year of 2014-15 marked an enormous success for the international members of the RCN, with the generation of 8 fully published papers and more than 12 newly proposed topics. By the collective efforts of all RCN members, in the future, we look forward to the upcoming opportunities in continuing to advance the standard of chemo- and radiotherapeutic oncologic care for selected rare tumor topics. The studies of these rare cancers often do not allow the design and execution of prospectively enrolled trials; however, these uncommon malignancies do impact the humankind and add to its suffering globally in significant ways.

Modern radiation therapy for extranodal lymphomas: field and dose guidelines from the International Lymphoma Radiation Oncology Group

Extranodal lymphomas (ENLs) comprise about a third of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). Radiation therapy (RT) is frequently used as either primary therapy (particularly for indolent ENL), consolidation after systemic therapy, salvage treatment, or palliation. The wide range of presentations of ENL, involving any organ in the body and the spectrum of histological sub-types, poses a challenge both for routine clinical care and for the conduct of prospective and retrospective studies. This has led to uncertainty and lack of consistency in RT approaches between centers and clinicians. Thus far there is a lack of guidelines for the use of RT in the management of ENL. This report presents an effort by the International Lymphoma Radiation Oncology Group (ILROG) to harmonize and standardize the principles of treatment of ENL, and to address the technical challenges of simulation, volume definition and treatment planning for the most frequently involved organs. Specifically, detailed recommendations for RT volumes are provided. We have applied the same modern principles of involved site radiation therapy as previously developed and published as guidelines for Hodgkin lymphoma and nodal NHL. We have adopted RT volume definitions based on the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU), as has been widely adopted by the field of radiation oncology for solid tumors. Organ-specific recommendations take into account histological subtype, anatomy, the treatment intent, and other treatment modalities that may be have been used before RT.

Rare breast malignancies and review of literature: A single centres experience

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Lymphoma of the breast is best managed with chemotherapy rather than surgery.

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Supradiaphragmatic metastases of ovarian cancer to breast can significantly alter prognosis.

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Osteosarcoma requires total excision with adequate margins in order to determine tumour size which is a valuable prognostic factor for survival.

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Immunohistochemistry is helpful to distinguish metaplastic carcinoma which are aggressive and are associated with poor outcomes.

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Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast are associated with favourable prognosis that only require surgery.

Introduction

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous condition, with variants which are less common but still very well defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. With the small number of cases each year large trials are difficult to perform. This series aims to discuss the rare breast malignancies encountered within a breast department and the evidence based approached to their management.

Method

Literature search of electronic databases via PubMed and the search engines Google/Google Scholar were used. Emphasis on keywords: breast cancer and the type of histology used to limit search. Searches were screened and those articles suitable had full text versions retrieved. The references to all retrieved texts were searched for further relevant studies.

Conclusion

Due to the rarity of some of these breast cancers, systematic evaluation of patient with detailed histopathology will aid accurate diagnosis and management. The series hopes to add the existing understanding of this small percentage of cases.

Primary hairy cell leukemia/lymphoma of the breast: a case report and review of the literature

Hairy cell leukemia/lymphoma (HCL) is a rare B-cell neoplasm primarily involving spleen, bone marrow, and blood. However, other sites of primary involvement do occur and can present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. We present an unusual case of HCL involving predominantly the breast that was diagnosed as an incidental finding during an elective reduction mammoplasty in an otherwise healthy asymptomatic woman. Bone marrow performed for staging revealed limited involvement by HCL. Notably, there was no splenomegaly and/or involvement of other extramedullary sites. The peripheral blood revealed minimal involvement detected by flow cytometry. Extensive immunohistochemical studies supported by positive BRAF V600E mutational status confirmed the diagnosis of HCL. The patient remains asymptomatic without treatment one year following the diagnosis. This is the first case of a well-documented HCL presenting primarily in the breast in an asymptomatic patient. We review the literature on extramedullary, extrasplenic involvement by HCL and discuss the diagnostic challenges as well as the utility of immunohistochemistry and molecular studies in the diagnosis of atypical presentations of HCL.

Primary breast lymphoma

Primary breast lymphoma is a rare form of extranodal lymphoma, defined by the presence of a primary lesion within the breast with or without regional nodal involvement but no other extra-mammary sites of involvement. It comprises diverse histologic subtypes, but diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common. In this review, we describe in detail the clinical features, diagnosis and staging, pathogenesis, risk factors and therapy of primary breast diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. We consider choice and number of cycles of chemotherapy, the indications for radiotherapy and discuss the need for central nervous system prophylaxis. We also provide a brief overview of the less commonly encountered histologic subtypes including marginal zone, follicular, Burkitt and breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma. We conclude with a suggested treatment approach and potential areas of future research.

Spontaneous regression of a clinically-advanced histologically low-grade follicular lymphoma involving the breast: case report and review of the literature

A 68-year-old woman was diagnosed as having grade 1 follicular lymphoma of the left breast in November 2012. Bone marrow infiltration was noted histologically and confirmed by Southern blot analysis of the IgHJH locus. The clinical stage was IVA, advanced stage. According to the Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index, the patient was classified into the high risk group. The general condition was good and there were no organ symptoms, therefore, the patient was kept under observation without treatment. After one year and 2 months of follow up, The mass was regressed spontaneously. As previous studies have suggested a poor prognosis of patients with an advanced clinical stage of the disease, careful follow-up of our patient is necessary.

Primary follicular lymphoma in a male breast: a case report

Primary breast lymphoma (PBL) is a rare disease, particularly in males. Diffuse large B cell lymphoma is the most common PBL, while follicular lymphoma is less common. Furthermore, primary follicular lymphoma of a male breast is rarely reported. We report a male patient with primary follicular lymphoma of the breast and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A 46-year-old man was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis secondary to chronic hepatitis B infection. Ten years later, he underwent segmentectomy of the liver due to HCC. Another 5 months later, he presented with a painless mass in the right chest wall. The mass was diagnosed as follicular lymphoma of the breast. The stage was IEA and he did not receive adjuvant therapy. Although only a few cases have been reported, lymphoma should be considered as a possible cause of breast mass, even in male patients.

Follicular lymphoma with leukemic phase at diagnosis: a series of seven cases and review of the literature

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a prevalent type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the United States and Europe. Although, FL typically presents with nodal involvement, extranodal sites are less common, and leukemic phase at diagnosis is rare. There is mounting evidence that leukemic presentation portends a worse prognosis in patients with FL. We describe 7 patients with a pathological diagnosis of FL who presented with a leukemic phase. We compared our cases with 24 additional cases reported in the literature. Based on our results, patients who present with leukemic FL tend to have higher risk disease. Leukemic FL also seems to be associated with a worse prognosis; however, larger studies are needed to confirm our findings. A discrepancy with previously reported cases of FL in leukemic phase raises the possibility of differences attributable to geographic regions.