ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast (PNHLB).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The characteristics, treatment methods and outcomes of 45 patients with PNHLB were retrospectively analyzed. Chemotherapy including CHOP and CHOP-like regimens was administered in 43 patients, and monoclonal antibody therapy in 6 patients. Furthermore, 19 patients underwent radiotherapy after chemotherapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of these 45 patients, 37 patients had diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), patients with T cell or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma were 4, respectively. Overall response rate of first-line chemotherapy was 90.7%. Median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of all patients was 6.82 and 4.25 years, respectively. The results of Cox regression model analysis showed that international prognostic index score (IPI) (RR = 5.682, P = 0.002) and Ann Arbor stage (RR = 1.836, P = 0.040) were negative independent prognostic factors for OS. Central nervous system involvement (RR = 1.107, P = 0.005) was a negative independent prognostic factor for PFS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The patients with PNHLB have early occurrence in lifespan. Most pathologic type was DLBCL. IPI and Ann Arbor stage are two independent prognostic factors for survival.</p>