Primary breast lymphomas - A retrospective analysis of twelve cases

This study was undertaken to define the natural history and treatment resul ts of patients with primary breast non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Twelve fem ale patients who had been followed at Hacettepe University Hospital between 1973 and 1997 were retrospectively evaluated. All patients presented with breast masses (6 in the right breast and 6 in the left) that had recently e nlarged. The most common histologic subtype was diffuse, small cleaved-cell lymphoma. Chemotherapy regimens were employed in 9 patients. Radiotherapy was delivered to the breast and its lymphatics in 8 patients. Lumpectomy, s imple or modified radical mastectomy was performed in 5 cases. An objective response was attained with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy alone in 2, 1, and 1 cases, respectively. Combined modality treatment including eit her two or three modalities was successful in 7 cases. The median progressi on-free and overall survival times were 49 and 56 months, respectively. Alt hough primary NHL of the breast is a rare disease compared to carcinoma, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of breast masses.