Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involved in three endocrine glands: Breast, adrenal glands and testis


ALHAN E., KUCUKTULU U., YILDIZ K., AYDIN F., Dinc H.

ONKOLOGIE, vol.21, no.5, pp.426-428, 1998 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 21 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 1998
  • Doi Number: 10.1159/000026867
  • Journal Name: ONKOLOGIE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.426-428
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this report was to present an extreme and unusual case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involving three endocrine organs (breast, adrenals, testis), and to review the literature concerning this malignancy. Case Report: A 52-year-old man with a 2-month history of breast and testis masses and 11.5 kg of weight loss was admitted to the hospital of Karadeniz Technical University. After biopsy of the breast a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was diagnosed (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma according to REAL classification). A computed tomographic (CT) scan of the abdomen confirmed the presence of large masses located in the upper poles of both kidneys. CT-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy revealed a similar histopathologic pattern in the breast. The hormone analysis showed no abnormalities. Simple mastectomy and orchiectomy were performed, and chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisolone) was administered. During the resting period of chemotherapy, the patient died from progression of the disease. Conclusion: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can be located very rarely in the breast, testis and adrenals. In this case we can not propose which organ system was primarily involved and which other organs were metastasized. Despite maximal therapeutic and supportive measures, prognosis is poor.