title: Primary breast lymphoma: outcome of 7 patients and a review of the literature.
abstract: Primary breast lymphomas (PBL) are uncommon neoplasms. Seven PBL were diagnosed between March 1993 and October 2002. A lumpectomy (n=4) or radical mastectomy (n=3) was performed; 5 patients were in clinical stage (CS) II and 2 in CS IV; 6 patients received the CEOP regimen (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, epirubicin and prednisone) after surgery and 4 also had additional radiotherapy; 1 patient did not receive any treatment after local excision. Five patients (71%) achieved complete remission and 2 (29%) partial remission, with an overall response rate of 100%. All remitter patients are alive and well after a median follow-up of 75 months (range 10--121 months). Two patients in partial remission died of progressive disease. After a median follow-up of 99 months (range 84--111 months) for surviving patients, the 10 year overall and disease-free survival rates are both 71%, with 5 patients well and still free of disease. We conclude that the optimal sequence of full-dose anthracycline-containing regimens and radiation therapy should be the treatment of choice for patients with PBL.
authors.affiliation: Hematology/Oncology Unit, C.R.O.B. Regional Hospital, Rionero in Vulture, Italy. marialuigiavigliotti@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Maria Luigia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Vigliotti
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dell'olio
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Sala
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Di Renzo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate