Breast Lymphoma Treatment Outcomes in a Pakistani Population: 20 Years of Experience at a Single Center.

BACKGROUND: Breast lymphomas constitute a rare disease entity. To date, limited relevant data have been reported. We therefore here present a review of breast lymphoma patients treated at a single center over a 20 year period, focusing on histological types, treatment modalities and outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified patients who were diagnosed and treated for breast lymphoma at a single center from January 1995 to January 2014 and extracted data regarding patient demographics and clinical data.

RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with breast lymphoma were identified, of which 3 were males. The median age at diagnosis was 37 years (range: 22-76 years). Chemotherapy was the main stay of treatment and 55.6% patients also received radiation to the affected breast. At our institute, only 3 patients, all with progressive disease, had surgery performed to achieve local palliation. Complete response after chemotherapy was seen in 63% patients and partial response in 7.4%, while 26% patients demonstrated disease progression. The mean follow up was 46.8 months. Seven patients (33.3%) who were alive at last follow up, as well as 1 patient who died, survived more than 5 years after diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with breast lymphoma should receive aggressive treatment, with combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Surgery should be limited for diagnosis and palliation of local symptoms in cases of progressive disease.