Primary Breast Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma – Report of 6 Cases from South India with Review of Literature

Abstract

The breast is an uncommon site of involvement in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and primary breast lymphoma (PBL) is a disease localized to one or both breasts with or without regional lymph nodes involvement. The objectives of the study were to review the clinical profile, epidemiological parameters and assess the outcomes exclusively in women with primary diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of breast. This was a retrospective observational study done at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, India. We studied 6 consecutive female patients, diagnosed with primary DLBCL of breast between January 2007 and December 2011. Median age at diagnosis was 45years (range 33-56years). B symptoms were present in 3 patients. One patient had central nervous system involvement with high risk International Prognostic Index (IPI). 3 patients underwent lumpectomy and 3 core biopsy. All received anthracycline based chemotherapy, with rituximab in one patient and 3 received involved field radiotherapy. Three patients achieved complete response; one is disease free at 15months. Two relapsed at 8 and 53months and both were alive with disease. One achieved partial response, one had progressive disease and response was not assessed in one (but died due to toxicity). Primary breast DLBCL is a rare entity and multi modality combination therapy involving chemotherapy and radiation can give a longer overall survival and thus avoiding the morbidity of mastectomy.