Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast: a report of 19 cases and a review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast represents 0.04%-0.50% of malignant lesions of the mammary gland. In this article, we report a single institution's experience with this rare disease.


METHODS
Between 1982 and 1997, 19 patients with breast lymphoma were diagnosed, treated, and followed at this institution.


RESULTS
There were 18 female patients and 1 male patient. All but one were cases of aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Ann Arbor stages were IE (n=5), IIE (n=9), IIIE (n=2), and IV (n=3). International Prognosis Index scores were 0 (n=2), 1 (n=8), 2 (n=7), and 3 (n=2). According to the Wiseman and Liao classification established in 1972, 11 cases were primary lymphomas of the breast, and 8 cases were secondary involvement of the breast. Median survival time was 21.5 months (range, 5.1-114.7 months). The 5-year overall survival was 29%. Median event-free survival time was 8.3 months. The clinical, radiologic, and histologic patterns of presentation match previously published data, even if the response rates and the survival times seem disappointing, probably because of the initial treatment by tumorectomy or mastectomy for some patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Systemic chemotherapy should be the mainstay of treatment. Based on our experience and a review of the literature, the use of Wiseman and Liao's classification is questionable. In fact, it fails to detect whether some lymphomas of the breast present a specific natural history and therefore require specific management. New clinical and histologic criteria are to be identified.
Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer René Huguenin, St Cloud, France.
Stéphan
S
Vignot
Véronique
V
Ledoussal
Philippe
P
Nodiot
Alain
A
Bourguignat
Maud
M
Janvier
Nicolas
N
Mounier
Philippe
P
Chérel
Jean-Louis
JL
Floiras
François
F
Turpin
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged