Bilateral Breast Lymphoma in a Developing Community
Wilson Onuigbo1*, Chineme Anyaeze2, Molloy M3 and Kalk A4
1Department of Pathology, Medical Foundation & Clinic, Enugu, Nigeria
2Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha, Nigeria 3Mater Hospital, Afikpo, Nigeria
4NONA Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria
Submission: Febrauary 22, 2018; Published: April 03, 2018
*Corresponding author: Wilson Onuigbo, Medical Foundation & Clinic, Enugu, Nigeria; Email: wilson.onuigbo@gmail.com
How to cite this article: Wilson O, Chineme A, Molloy M, Kalk A. Bilateral Breast Lymphoma in a Developing Community. Glob J Reprod Med. 2018; 4(1): 555628. DOI: 10.19080/GJORM.2018.04.555628
Abstract
Breast lymphoma is a rare entity more so when they are bilateral; usually single case reports are available. Some examples have come from countries as far apart as Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, and India. Therefore, 3 cases dealt with at a Reference Pathology Laboratory in Nigeria are deemed to be worthy of documentation.
Keywords: Breast; Lymphoma; Bilateral; Nigeria
Introduction
The lymphoma occurs rarely in the breast. Thus, individual or few cases have been reported recently from countries as far apart as Iran, Pakistan, India, Turkey and USA [1-5]. As local epidemiological data were recorded personally, this paper documents pertinent information concerning the Igbo ethnic group in Nigeria [6]. The series was facilitated by the institution in Nigeria of a histopathology data pool as was recommended by a Birmingham (UK) group [7].
Case Reports
Case 1
NO. A 24-year-old woman consulted Dr Anyaeze at the Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha, with the history of rapidly growing, painless lumps in the left breast. It had 3 weeks earlier been biopsied and proved to be lymphoma. This time, the other breast was involved. There were 2 mobile masses each in the upper outer and lower outer quadrants about 5cm across. Biopsy was performed and the material was submitted to the senior author (WO). This proved to be typical malignant lymphoma.
Case 2
AC. 36-year-old woman, complained to Dr. M. Molloy at the Mater Hospital, Afikpo, Nigeria, of lumps in both breasts of 9 months' duration. Both were large mobile masses. At operation, both underwent excision biopsy. Carcinoma was queried on submission to The Reference Laboratory The specimens measured up to 8 cm across. Microscopy revealed breast tissues being replaced by sheets of mitotically active tumor with the classical appearance of the lymphoid type. Reed-Sternberg cells were not discerned. Therefore, malignant lymphoma was diagnosed.
Case 3
OG. A girl aged 18 years, consulted Dr. Andrew Kalk at the NONA Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. She complained of bilateral tumors of the breasts. The growths showed remarkable speed. Both measured 6.0 cm and 4.0cm across respectively. Microscopy revealed background fibro sclerosis and adenosis as well as small, round, hyperchromatic, mitotically active, tumor cells displaying no differentiation. Malignant lymphoma was diagnosed.
Discussion
A question that crops up in bilateral tumors is whether the appearance was synchronous or metachronous [5]. In this series, Case 1 showed a gap of 3 months thereby indicating the latter type. It is noteworthy that all 3 patients attended Missionary Hospitals, thereby signifying the role played by such institutions in a developing community [8]. In particular, it disproves the one-time debate in the UK as to whether a central laboratory could be useful to distant hospitals [9]. The common impression is that the affected patients are generally young. This is true of our series. Diagnosis has resulted from fine needle aspiration biopsy [10]. However, excision biopsy is the vogue which was practiced in this locality. Occasionally, the examination reveals multiple, firm, hard lumps filling all quadrants of both breasts [11]. This picture did not obtain here.
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