Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Within a Breast Abscess in a Male Patient: A Presentation and Literature Review of a Rare Case

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 16; no. 8; p. e67601
• Main Authors: Kazi, Farah F, Batool, Shane Zahra, Kazi, Ahmed, Bashir, Yasir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Cureus Inc 23.08.2024; Cureus
• Subjects: Abscesses; Biopsy; Case reports; Emergency medical care; Erythema; General Surgery; Hematology; Hospitals; Lymphatic system; Lymphoma; Oncology; Surgeons; Surgery; Tomography; Ultrasonic imaging; rare breast mass; non-hodgkin's lymphoma; breast disease; rare cancers; general surgery and breast cancer
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.67601

Breast abscesses are a common cause of presentation to the hospital. These should be treated with caution due to the possibility of rare pathology. We present a rare case of a 59-year-old diabetic gentleman who presented to the emergency department with a two-day history of a large right-sided breast swelling along with an area of induration, consistent with an abscess, extending to the right axillary region. Initial laboratory findings revealed elevated inflammatory markers. He was admitted for intravenous antibiotics. A computed tomography (CT) of the thorax performed on admission showed an ill-defined collection in the subcutaneous tissue of the right breast and axilla and an irregular right-sided peribronchial nodule with multiple enlarged pathological lymph nodes. This patient's case was discussed with tertiary specialist breast services and local respiratory teams. He underwent an ultrasound-guided right axillary lymph node biopsy. The histopathology of this revealed a high-grade malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the diffuse large B-cell (DLBCL) type. He was referred for a positron emission tomography (PET) scan and hematological oncology services for further treatment in the form of chemotherapy. This case presentation brings forward the importance of considering rare diagnoses and unusual histopathology when assessing a male breast lesion.