Primary Breast Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in a 42-Year-Old Female: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Primary breast diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PB-DLBCL) is a rare localized extranodal lymphoma. It is mainly diagnosed by pathological examination due to the lack of specific clinical and imaging manifestations. Whole-body positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is widely used in determining clinical staging and guiding clinical treatment. As part of comprehensive treatment, targeted therapy with rituximab, intrathecal methotrexate injection and consolidation radiotherapy remain controversial in treating PB-DLBCL, but the comprehensive treatment based on full-course of chemotherapy is still widely used as the first-line treatment. Comprehensive treatment often leads to a sharp decline in the immunity of elderly patients with malignancy. In this situation, surgery may be a good chance to improve their life quality without serious complications. We present a rare case of PB-DLBCL during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The patient underwent chest CT scan to screen COVID-19 and a mass of left breast was accidentally found. Because of the city lockdown policy in Wuhan, she did not seek medical help until noticing that the mass was gradually enlarged. Both ultrasonography and mammography indicated that the lesion was breast cancer. However, ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of breast and PET-CT scan showed that the lesion was a primary hypermetabolic tumor of left breast. The patient subsequently received comprehensive treatment based on six cycles of rituximab-cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunomycin, oncovin, prednisone (R-CHOP) chemotherapy.

J Med Cases. 2021;12(5):181-185
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3660