Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Breast Lymphoma -Review

Abstract

Primary breast lymphoma(PBL) is a rare and unique type of lymphoma. Female patients are the majority, but its pathogenesis is not clear, and the estrogen may be related with the pathoganesis. Women who have breast implants have more chance to be suffered. The painless breast masses are the most common clinical manifestations, which is similar to breast cancer. Surgical resection of the mass and core needle biopsy are helpful for the diagnosis. The most common pathological type of PBL is diffuse large B cell type, with non GCB type, and it is prone to extranodal relapse in which central nervous system relapse is common which has poor prognosis. Therapy combined with surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are requied, but rituximab added failed to improve its survival. Small molecular targeted drugs may be beneficial to PBL. In this article, the pathogenesis, clinical characte ristics, diagnosis and treatment of PBL are briefly summarized.