Primary malignant lymphoma of the breast: a study of 15 cases and review of the Chinese literature

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To study the clinical features and significant prognostic factors for primary breast lymphoma (PBL). METHODS A retrospective clinical analysis of 15 patients with PBL and a statistical analysis of 134 cases with PBL were performed. RESULTS All 15 patients, but one, were female with a median age of 42 years. None were diagnosed with PBL preoperatively. Pathological study showed that all cases were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with the DLCL type (53.3%). The right breast was affected in 10 patients, the left in 4 and both in one. A statistical analysis showed that the size of tumors and treatment pattern (single or multi-modality) were significant prognostic factors in predicting the survival time, but the location of the tumor at initial presentation and the age of the patients were not. CONCLUSION Most PBLs are NHL. The right breast is more frequently involved. The correct diagnosis depends mostly on postoperative pathology. The size of the tumor and the modality of treatment are significant prognostic factors.