Lymphoma of the Breast

Thirteen patients with lymphoma of the breast are presented. In addition, 163 previously reported cases of lymphoma of the breast are reviewed. Complete staging was performed on all patients. No patient had a diagnosis of lymphoma prior to breast biopsy. The histologic findings were diffuse histiocytic lymphoma (DHL) in eight patients, nodular lymphocytic poorly differentiated lymphoma (NLPD) in two patients, nodular mixed lymphoma (NM) in two patients and nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease (NSHD) in one patient. Five patients had Stage IV disease, two had Stage III disease, four had stage II disease and two Stage I disease. Nine patients each underwent an excisional biopsy and four patients each had a modified radical mastectomy as initial therapy. Two patients each underwent a staging laparotomy. In advanced disease, chemotherapy achieved complete remissions in approximately 50% of patients. Unfavorable histologic findings are most common in lymphoma of the breast and thorough staging is necessary to select the best form of therapy. The absolute survival rate (61%) and the disease free survival rate (46%) are similar to nodal lymphoma of corresponding histologic factors and stage.