Localized non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast

• Published in: Cancer 1987-01, Vol.59 (2), p.351-354
• Main Authors: Smith, Mitchell R., Brustein, Sheryl, Straus, David J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Female; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - pathology; Mastectomy; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(19870115)59:2<351::AID-CNCR2820590231>3.0.CO;2-T

Chart review identified 18 patients seen at Memorial Hospital from 1970 to 1984 with primary non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma localized to the breast. Sixteen involved the breast alone (Stage IE), whereas two also involved ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes (Stage IIE). None had B symptoms. Histologic subtypes included 11 diffuse histiocytic, 4 diffuse poorly differentiated, 2 diffuse mixed and one nodular mixed. Thirteen patients (72%) are alive with 55 months median follow‐up (11 months‐14 years). Three patients died with recurrent disease at less than 2 years, one recurred at 4 years and died 6 years after diagnosis, and one died at 30 months without clinical evidence of disease. Seven (39%) have remained continuously disease‐free (11 months‐11 years; median, 54 months). Of the clinical Stage I patients, 1 of 3 treated with mastectomy alone recurred in the scar, whereas 1 of 12 treated with irradiation alone recurred locally. Thus, radiation therapy alone achieved good local control, although distant relapses remain a problem in these clinically staged patients. Overall, the outcome of clinically localized non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast is similar to that for localized lymphoma in other sites. Cancer 59:351–354, 1987.