Primary, nodal, marginal zone lymphoma of a woman’s left breast imitated fibroadenoma

Abstract

Background Primary breast lymphoma is a rare malignant neoplastic disease, accounting for around 0.5 per cent of all malignant diseases of that organ, and also 2.2 per cent of extranodal lymphomas. The most common histopathological types are: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, extranodal B-cell marginal zone lymphoma and MALT lymphoma. The primary affected group is with median age between 55 and 62 years. The clinical manifestation is usually of a tumour process in the affected breast. Case presentation Here we present an extremely rare case of a 68 years old woman with primary, nodal, B-cell, marginal zone lymphoma of the left breast, presenting itself under the mask of a benign tumour process, found accidentally following a histopathological examination of excisional samples. Conclusions Primary, nodal, marginal zone, B-cell lymphoma of the breast is extremely rare. Its clinical and mammographic presentation completely overlaps with those of fibroadenoma, which makes diagnosing it preoperatively practically impossible. Main treatment method here is not surgical, but radiological and chemotherapeutic.