Treatment and outcomes of patients with primary breast sarcoma.
BACKGROUND
Surgery is the main treatment for primary breast sarcoma (PBS). Here we characterize this disease and determine factors associated with use of adjuvant therapy.


METHODS
Records of patients with PBS from 1986 to 2006 were reviewed. Overall survival (OS) was estimated by Kaplan-Meier. Relationships between patient variables and OS were determined using univariate Cox proportional hazard models.


RESULTS
Thirteen patients with PBS were identified; 10 patients underwent mastectomy, and 3 underwent partial mastectomy. Six patients underwent axillary staging; none were positive. Patients with tumors >5 cm were more likely to undergo radiation therapy (P <.05). Local recurrence occurred in 7 patients. Metastatic disease was present in 2 patients at diagnosis, and 6 patients developed metastatic disease; all 8 patients died from their disease. Five patients remained disease free. Five-year OS was 67% (83% for tumors <5 cm and 42% for tumors >5 cm). Tumor size was significantly associated with OS (relative risk = 1.1/1 cm increase in size > 5 cm).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment for PBS is excision to clear margins. Axillary staging is not indicated. Tumor size >5 cm is the only significant prognostic indicator of overall survival.
Fields
Ryan C
RC
Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Aft
Rebecca L
RL
Gillanders
William E
WE
Eberlein
Timothy J
TJ
Margenthaler
Julie A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012307:Risk Factors; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome