Clinico-pathological analysis of primary breast lymphoma: A cross sectional study in a tertiary care hospital

Introduction: Breast being well-developed mammary organ in females is a common site for many non-neoplastic and malignant lesions due to varied underlying etio-pathogenesis. Lymphoma being a malignant clonal proliferation of lymphoid cells, primary breast lymphoma is an unusual entity with non-epithelial origin characterized by florid proliferation of neoplastic lymphoid cells. With uncertain etiology, the clinical presentation is vague with varied radiological and histopathological patterns. In the present study, we analyzed the incidence of primary breast lymphoma with a study on clinico-histopathological pathological spectrum. Methodology: The study was conducted retrospectively and included patients with breast lesions and the histopathological evaluation from their subsequent tissue biopsies. All the clinical data was documented and cytological correlation were done in available cases. Hematological and radiological interpretations are analyzed subsequently as pre-op work up of the patients. Clinico-pathological analysis of the results were done based on knowledge from research works. Results and Observation: The seven years retrospective study included nine cases which fell into the criteria of PBL with average age incidence between 4th & 5th decade occurring retroareolar region with right breast preponderance. Radiological studies picked up malignancy only in few cases but categorization of lymphoma were not reported by imaging. Hematological parameters showed anaemia, leucopenia and pancytopenia depending on extent and involvement of the bone marrow. Histomorphology and subsequent IHC expression stayed gold standard role in diagnosis compared to radiological interpretations. Conclusion: Primary breast lymphoma is rare type of breast cancer with varied presentation. Any patient presenting with solitary, lobulated breast lump in 5th decade, PBL should be kept as one of the differentials especially with anaemia and axillary node enlargement. Clinico-hematological correlation with subsequent histomorphology helps the Pathologist is diagnosing the condition thereby aiding the in Prompt management.