Clinicopathological characteristics, local treatment, and prognostic factors in IE/IIE primary breast lymphoma: a retrospective study of 67 patients

Introduction Primary breast lymphoma (PBL) is a rare disease, treatment of which excerpts does not reach a consensus. This retrospective study was conducted to analyze clinical features and survival outcomes of different therapeutic methods. Materials and methods Records of 67 patients with stage IE/IIE primary breast lymphoma were reviewed from the medical record system. Survival information was gathered by searching the outpatient system. Clinicopathological characteristics were compared by chi-squared or Fisher’s exact tests. A comparison of survival curves was performed by log-rank tests. The Cox proportional hazard model was applied for multivariate analysis. Results At the median follow-up time of 65.23 months (range, 9–150 months), there were 27 (40.3%) relapses, 28 (41.8%) distant metastases, and 21 (31.3%) deaths. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 52.1% and 72.4%. Pathological types (DLBCL vs. non-DLBCL, p = 0.001) and rituximab use ( p < 0.001) were statistically associated with longer PFS in patients with PBL. Nodal sites involved and radiotherapy administration were significant predictors for 5-year OS. Multivariate analysis suggested that nodal sites involved ( p = 0.005) and radiotherapy administration ( p < 0.003) were independent prognostic factors for OS in patients with PBL ( p < 0.05). Radical surgery was not an independent factor for patients with PBL. Conclusions Radiotherapy improved the survival of patients with PBL. Radical mastectomy offered no additional benefit in the treatment of PBL.