Breast leukemia: an update

Abstract

In the present study the clinical and radiological features of BL are described. They are non-specific. However, BL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of breast disorders, especially in patients with leukemia.

Granulocytic Sarcoma Presenting as a Palpable Breast Lump

“…A historical retrospective study in patients with myelogenous leukemia from Hiroshima and Nagasaki (2) depicted breast involvement in approximately 8% of cases. In recent reviews, 153 cases of breast GS have been reported from 1969 to 2005 according to Cunningham (7) and 139 cases between 1980 and 2010 according to Surov et al (8). In both reviews, most cases were associated with AML, especially as intramammary relapse after therapy, and only a small fraction of these (around 17%) showed isolated breast disease although the majority developed medullary disease somewhere between 1 and 2 years after breast GS diagnosis.…”

“…Clinical findings are non-specific and diagnosis can be very challenging, especially in cases presenting with primary breast involvement and no evidence of medullary disease (7, 8). …”

“…Moreover, only a few reports focusing on radiographic description have been published so far (9–13). Currently, only histological examination associated with immunohistochemistry is capable of confirming the disease (6, 8, 14). …”

Leukemia Recurrence Exclusively in the Breast after Stem Cell Transplant

“…It may occur in isolation, in the setting of widespread disease, or in the setting of leukemic relapse as the only site. Both myeloid leukemia and lymphocytic leukemia involving the breast have been described previously (Surov et al, 2012;Bayrak et al, 2009). Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of leukemia presenting in breasts whereas chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in the breast are exceedingly rare.…”

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Presenting as a Collision Breast Tumor

“…Chronic myelogenous leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in the breast are exceedingly rare. 2 Studies have demonstrated an association between concurrent lymphoproliferative disorders and breast cancer, suggested by some to be due to abnormal tumor gene expression or a viral presence. 3,4 The presence of two histologically distinct tumor types simultaneously involving the same anatomic site is known as collision tumor.…”