BACKGROUND: Surgery is the main treatment for primary breast sarcoma (PBS). Here we characterize this disease and determine factors associated with use of adjuvant therapy. METHODS: Records of patients with PBS from 1986 to 2006 were reviewed. Overall survival (OS) was estimated by Kaplan-Meier. Relationships between patient variables and OS were determined using univariate Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with PBS were identified; 10 patients underwent mastectomy, and 3 underwent partial mastectomy. Six patients underwent axillary staging; none were positive. Patients with tumors >5 cm were more likely to undergo radiation therapy (P <.05). Local recurrence occurred in 7 patients. Metastatic disease was present in 2 patients at diagnosis, and 6 patients developed metastatic disease; all 8 patients died from their disease. Five patients remained disease free. Five-year OS was 67% (83% for tumors <5 cm and 42% for tumors >5 cm). Tumor size was significantly associated with OS (relative risk = 1.1/1 cm increase in size > 5 cm). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment for PBS is excision to clear margins. Axillary staging is not indicated. Tumor size >5 cm is the only significant prognostic indicator of overall survival.
BACKGROUND: Surgery is the main treatment for primary breast sarcoma (PBS). Here we characterize this disease and determine factors associated with use of adjuvant therapy. METHODS: Records of patients with PBS from 1986 to 2006 were reviewed. Overall survival (OS) was estimated by Kaplan-Meier. Relationships between patient variables and OS were determined using univariate Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with PBS were identified; 10 patients underwent mastectomy, and 3 underwent partial mastectomy. Six patients underwent axillary staging; none were positive. Patients with tumors >5 cm were more likely to undergo radiation therapy (P <.05). Local recurrence occurred in 7 patients. Metastatic disease was present in 2 patients at diagnosis, and 6 patients developed metastatic disease; all 8 patients died from their disease. Five patients remained disease free. Five-year OS was 67% (83% for tumors <5 cm and 42% for tumors >5 cm). Tumor size was significantly associated with OS (relative risk = 1.1/1 cm increase in size > 5 cm). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment for PBS is excision to clear margins. Axillary staging is not indicated. Tumor size >5 cm is the only significant prognostic indicator of overall survival.