title: Primary breast diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the era of rituximab.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to summarize the clinical characteristics and evaluate the management approaches of primary breast diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in the era of rituximab.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 24 female patients with newly diagnosed primary breast DLBCL treated between April 2006 and May 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Ten patients (41.7%) received rituximab.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the whole group, the median age was 50 years (range 24-69 years). All patients had the disease detected with a palpable mass. The estimated 5-year overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS) rates of all the patients were 78.9% and 79.2%, respectively. A nonstatistically significant increase in PFS and overall survival was observed when rituximab was administered (5-year PFS: 90% vs 71.4%,P=0.285; 5-year overall survival: 90% vs 71.4%,P=0.239).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary breast DLBCL appears to be a rare disease. Adding rituximab might improve survival in patients with primary breast DLBCL. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate the role of rituximab for primary breast DLBCL.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors: Na
authors: N
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors: Caineng
authors: C
authors: Cao
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors: Luying
authors: L
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors: Ke
authors: K
authors: Lu
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors: Jialin
authors: J
authors: Luo
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors: Ning
authors: N
authors: Zhou
keywords: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; primary breast lymphoma; prognosis; rituximab