Breast Lymphoma: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Outlook Health ConditionsFeaturedBreast CancerIBD MigraineMultiple Sclerosis (MS)Rheumatoid ArthritisType 2 DiabetesSponsored TopicsArticlesAcid RefluxADHDAllergiesAlzheimer's & DementiaBipolar DisorderCancerCrohn's DiseaseChronic PainCold & FluCOPDDepressionFibromyalgiaHeart DiseaseHigh CholesterolHIVHypertensionIPFOsteoarthritisPsoriasisSkin Disorders and CareSTDsDiscoverWellness TopicsNutritionFitnessSkin CareSexual HealthWomen's HealthMental HealthSleepOriginal SeriesFresh Food FastDiagnosis DiariesYou’re Not AlonePresent TenseVideo SeriesYouth in FocusHealthy HarvestNo More SilenceFuture of HealthPlanHealth ChallengesMindful EatingSugar SavvyMove Your BodyGut HealthMood FoodsAlign Your SpineFind CarePrimary CareMental HealthOB-GYNDermatologistsNeurologistsCardiologistsOrthopedistsLifestyle QuizzesWeight ManagementAm I Depressed? A Quiz for TeensAre You a Workaholic?How Well Do You Sleep?Tools & ResourcesHealth NewsFind a DietFind Healthy SnacksDrugs A-ZHealth A-ZConnectFind Your Bezzy CommunityBreast CancerInflammatory Bowel DiseasePsoriatic ArthritisMigraineMultiple SclerosisPsoriasisFollow us on social mediaShopProducts by ConditionInsomniaStress ReliefBack PainNeck PainSleep ApneaHot SleepersAllergiesPain ReliefProduct ReviewsVitamins & SupplementsSleepMental HealthNutritionAt-Home TestingCBDMen’s HealthWomen’s HealthHealth ConditionsDiscoverPlanConnectShopSubscribe

All About Breast Lymphoma A Rare Form of Non-Hodgkin s Lymphoma

Medically reviewed by Teresa Hagan Thomas PHD, BA, RN — By Ann Pietrangelo on September 15, 2022Breast lymphoma develops in the breasts, but it’s not breast cancer. It’s a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). NHL is a cancer of the lymphatic system. It rarely affects the breasts, accounting for only about 0.5% of breast malignancies. Early signs and symptoms of breast lymphoma mimic those of breast cancer. Because breast lymphoma and breast cancer have different treatments, getting the right diagnosis is crucial. This article will explain what breast lymphoma is and who’s at risk, plus how it’s diagnosed and treated.

What is breast lymphoma

Breast lymphoma is a type of NHL. It develops in the lymph tissue in the breast. There’s not much lymph tissue in the breasts, which may help explain why it’s so rare. There are two types of breast lymphoma:Primary breast lymphoma (PBL): This is when lymphoma is found in the breast but there’s no evidence of lymphoma anywhere else.Secondary breast lymphoma (SBL): This is when lymphoma spreads to the breast from somewhere else. It’s rather uncommon for other cancers to spread to the breasts. Lymphoma is the most common type of cancer to do this, representing 17% of secondary breast metastases.

What are the symptoms of breast lymphoma

The most common symptom is a lump, which is typically painless. This occurs in approximately 61% of cases. Other common symptoms are:swollen lymph nodes (occurs in approximately of cases)breast pain (occurs in approximately 12% of cases)local inflammation (occurs in approximately 11% of cases)dimpled skin that resembles an orange peelnew asymmetry of the breasts Involvement of both breasts occurs in about 10% of cases. This is usually associated with SBL. Other symptoms common to SBL, but not PBL, are:fevernight sweatsweight loss Early on, breast lymphoma may not cause any symptoms at all. About 10% of the time there’s no lump and it’s an incidental finding on a routine mammogram. Symptoms such as inflammation and breast asymmetry can mimic inflammatory breast cancer, a rare and aggressive type of breast cancer.

Visit a doctor if you have any concerning breast changes

Most clinical breast changes in women are benign. But it’s still a good idea to visit a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. Other signs that you might want to see a doctor are:One or both breasts appear inflamed.The skin is dimpling.You have breast pain.You have swollen lymph nodes.

What causes breast lymphoma and who s at risk

It’s not clear what causes PBL. SBL is the result of lymphoma spreading from another part of the body. We do know that it’s almost exclusively diagnosed in females, though it has been reported in males. The median age at diagnosis is 60 to 65 years for PBL and 60 to 70 years for SBL.

Breast implant-associated lymphoma

The FDA first identified a possible association between breast implants and the development of breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) in 2011. A 2018 study concluded that there is an increased risk, though the absolute risk is small. Symptoms may not start for years after the implant surgery. BIA-ALCL is serious and potentially life threatening. But with early diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis is excellent. Talk with your doctor if you have symptoms or are in any way concerned about your breast implants.

How is breast lymphoma diagnosed

Breast lumps due to breast lymphoma are similar to those of breast cancer. When you have a breast lump, diagnostic testing will likely begin with imaging tests, such as a mammogram or ultrasound. But it may not be possible to differentiate between these two conditions since the images can be so similar. A breast biopsy is a procedure in which a doctor takes a small sample of breast tissue so it can be examined under a microscope. It’s the only sure way to determine whether the lump is due to breast cancer or breast lymphoma. Biopsy is considered the “gold standard” in establishing the diagnosis. The diagnosis will likely be primary breast lymphoma if:You didn’t already have a diagnosis of lymphoma.There’s no evidence of lymphoma in other parts of your body.

How is breast lymphoma treated

Both PBL and SBL are cancers of the lymphatic system, so both require systemic treatment. Because it’s so rare, there are no standardized guidelines, but treatment will likely include a combination of:surgical removal of the lump or lumps (lumpectomy)chemotherapyradiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy Depending on factors such as the specific type of NHL, stage, and grade, other treatments may include:immunotherapytargeted drug therapy Mastectomy is not associated with improvement in survival or recurrence risk in breast lymphoma. Some research suggests it may actually result in higher mortality and a poorer prognosis, especially when it delays chemotherapy.

What s the outlook for people with breast lymphoma

The rate of complete remission is around 64% but may be higher for those who have surgery and chemotherapy. Systemic relapse is more common than local relapse, typically occurring within 2 years. The size of the tumor is not associated with outlook. A research article published in 2017 looked back at PBL in the U.S. from 1975 to 2013. The researchers found significant improvement in survival over that time. The 5-year relative survival rate was 90% for those diagnosed between 2005 and 2012. Survival rates were a bit lower when both breasts were involved. Secondary breast lymphoma is already advanced at diagnosis, so the outlook is generally not as good as it is for primary breast lymphoma. Breast lymphoma is rare and so are predictive models for prognosis. Your own outlook depends on factors such as:the specific type of lymphomastage at diagnosisgradetreatment choicesage and overall health Your provider can go over your medical history and offer a better understanding of your personal outlook.

Takeaway

Breast lymphoma is not breast cancer. It’s a rare type of NHL, a cancer of the lymphatic system. When lymphoma is found in the breast but nowhere else, it’s called primary breast lymphoma. When lymphoma spreads from other parts of the body to the breast, it’s called secondary breast lymphoma. Signs and symptoms of breast lymphoma can be similar to those of breast cancer. It can also be hard to tell the difference on imaging tests. The only way to confirm breast lymphoma is to perform a breast biopsy. Treatment usually involves surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, but not a mastectomy. Breast lymphoma is treatable, especially when diagnosed in early stages. If you develop a breast lump or other symptoms, it’s a good idea to see a doctor and find out what’s going on. Last medically reviewed on September 15, 2022

How we vetted this article

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Breast lymphoma. (2019).
breast-cancer.ca/lymphoreast/Clemens MW, et al. (2019). 2019 NCCN consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).
academic.oup.com/asj/article/39/Supplement_1/S3/5304919De Boer M, et al. (2018). Breast implants and the risk of anaplastic large-cell lymphoma in the breast.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2667737Guo M, et al. (2022). Primary breast diffuse large B cell lymphoma.
casereports.bmj.com/content/15/6/e250478Immunotherapy to treat cancer. (2019).
cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/immunotherapyInflammatory breast cancer. (2022).
cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/types-of-breast-cancer/inflammatory-breast-cancer.htmlLuo H, et al. (2019). Clinicopathological features, treatment, and prognosis in primary diffuse large B cell lymphoma of the breast: A retrospective study of 46 patients.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6876064/Melo A, et al. (2018). Primary breast lymphoma: A mimic of inflammatory breast cancer.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6260440/Moura C, et al. (2020). Primary breast lymphoma.
academic.oup.com/jscr/article/2020/1/rjz405/5706871Orlandi A, et al. (2019). Diagnosis and management of breast lymphoma: a single-institution retrospective analysis.
tcr.amegroups.com/article/view/17996/htmlPeng F, et al. (2021). Epidemiological features of primary breast lymphoma patients and development of a nomogram to predict survival.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8027901/Raj SD, et al. (2019). Primary and secondary breast lymphoma: Clinical, pathologic, and multimodality imaging review.
pubs.rsna.org/doi/full/10.1148/rg.2019180097Stachs A, et al. (2019). Benign breast disease in women.
aerzteblatt.de/int/archive/article/209397Thomas A, et al. (2017). Primary breast lymphoma in the United States: 1975-2013.
academic.oup.com/jnci/article/109/6/djw294/3071263Systemic therapies. (n.d.).
clfoundation.org/systemic-therapiesTargeted therapy to treat cancer. (2022).
cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/targeted-therapiesTreating non-Hodgkin lymphoma. (n.d.).
cancer.org/cancer/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/treating.htmlU.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2019). Questions and answers about breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). [Press release].
fda.gov/medical-devices/breast-implants/questions-and-answers-about-breast-implant-associated-anaplastic-large-cell-lymphoma-bia-alclOur experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Current Version Sep 15, 2022 By Ann Pietrangelo Edited By Willow Banks Medically Reviewed By Teresa Hagan Thomas PHD, BA, RN Copy Edited By Naomi Farr Share this articleMedically reviewed by Teresa Hagan Thomas PHD, BA, RN — By Ann Pietrangelo on September 15, 2022

Read this next

Dealing with Post-Mammogram AnxietyMedically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.D., MSN There are a number of ways you can cope with the anxiety and stress you may feel while waiting for your mammogram results.READ MOREBreast Self-ExamMedically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH A breast self-exam is a screening technique you can do at home to check for breast lumps. This exam can screen for tumors, cysts, or other…READ MOREWhen to Worry About Breast Pain Most women will experience breast pain at some point in their lives, but only a few will be diagnosed with cancer. Learn the causes and when to visit…READ MOREWhat Can Cause Large Areolas and Is This Normal?Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.D., MSN The areola is the colored area around your nipple. Like breasts themselves, areolas come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Many women worry that their…READ MORELipomas in the Breast: What You Need to KnowMedically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP Lipomas are common fatty tumors of the breast. They are generally harmless, but doctors will perform an exam to be sure the lump is a lipoma.READ MOREWhy Are My Nipples Itchy?Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH Find out all you need to know about what causes an itchy breast or nipple, what treatments are available, and when you should seek medical help.READ MOREFound a Lump Under Your Breast at Bra Line? What to Do NowMedically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH A lump under your breast at the bra line can be caused by many things, from a bra to infection and more. We explain what to do if you have one.READ MORE*clone Market VIP* The 11 Best Mattresses for Lower Back Pain in 2022Medically reviewed by Gregory Minnis, DPT These 11 picks are some of the best mattresses for lower back pain. Offering medium-firm support, they’ll help keep you aligned and rested.READ MORE