[Primary breast sarcoma. A retrospective study of 42 patients treated at the Bergonié Institute during a 32-year period].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the experience of a single cancer center with unusual tumors. To analyze Primary breast sarcomas (PBS). To investigate treatment and prognostic factors influencing overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).


METHODS
Retrospective study of a series of 42 patients. We reviewed the clinical records and pathology slides of 42 women with PBS treated in our institution between 1970 and 2002. Log-rank tests were used to determine OS and DFS.


RESULTS
The median age at diagnosis was 56.9 years (24-81 years). Surgery was part of the therapeutic strategy in all the patients. Patients with angiosarcoma and those with malignant cystosarcoma constituted distinct populations. The 10-year OS and DFS rates were 53% and 55% for angiosarcoma patients and 89% and 100% for cystosarcoma patients (p=0.009 and 0.01 respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Careful preoperative multidisciplinary assessment is required before making the decision to treat. Mastectomy is generally indicated. Axillary lymph node dissection is not indicated.
Malard
Y
Y
Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer de Bordeaux, Institut Bergonié, 229, cours de l'Argonne, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France.
De Lara
C Tunon
CT
MacGrogan
G
G
Bussières
E
E
Avril
A
A
Picot
V
V
Bui
B
B
Coindre
J-M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D003557:Phyllodes Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome