B-Cell Lymphoma of the Female Breast: Comparison of Mammography, Ultrasound and Dynamic MRI

Introduction

Approximately 2 % of all extranodal lymphomas and 0.12 – 0.53 % of all breast tumors are primary lymphomas of the female breast. Most of them (> 20 %) are diffuse, centroblastic lymphomas (Aydemir Ü et al. Epidemiologie maligner Lymphome, Tumorzentrum München; 2000). The mean age at the time of presentation is 59 years. The 5-year survival rate with therapy is 57 %. First line therapy is chemotherapy according to the CHOP scheme ( = cylcophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) (Cohen PL et al. Cancer 1991; 67: 1359 – 1369; Jeon HJ et al. Cancer 1992; 70: 2451 – 2459).

We report a case of B-cell lymphoma in a patient who presented with one-sided swelling and reddening of the left breast. While ultrasound and mammography only showed subtle signs, the magnetic resonance imaging study also revealed a tumor on the contralateral side which wasn’t suspected before. Differential diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, and histological evaluation and therapy will be discussed.