title: [Sarcoma of the breast. Two clinical cases and review of the literature].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sarcomas of the breast are rare neoplasm. Wide discordances exist about prognostic factors, therapy and life expectancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two women affected by sarcoma of the breast; prognostic aspects and therapy are analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After radical mastectomy one patient, with neoplasm of 4.5 cm in diameter, is still alive one year after the surgical procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnosis of the sarcomas of the breast is very difficult with the common radiological imaging, specially in the early phases when the sarcomas often can simulate absolutely benign lesions. Prognostic factors are histological type and degree, mytosis number for field and, probably, dimensions of the neoplasm. Sarcomas less than 3 cm in diameter can be admitted to conservative surgical procedure, but radical mastectomy is unavoidable when dimensions exceed this limit.
authors.affiliation: U.O. Chirurgia Generale, Regione Toscana, ASL 3 Pistoia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Corsale
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mandato
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Foglia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Martino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zenone
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Procaccini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*