Sarcoidosis and breast cancer. A report of 10 cases and a review of the literature

A retrospective study in two oncology units in north-eastern France identified ten patients who had both breast cancer (BC) and sarcoidosis. The sarcoidosis antedated the breast cancer in four cases, whereas in three both conditions were diagnosed at the same time, and in three others the sarcoidosis developed after treatment of the breast tumor. The intervals between the diagnoses of the two conditions varied widely. Of the seven women in whom the diagnosis of sarcoidosis was made before or at the same time as that of BC, three developed metastases, with a fatal outcome in two cases. Another died from a very rapidly progressive nonHodgkin's lymphoma. The other three are in remission. The three patients who developed sarcoidosis after the treatment of their BC are in remission. Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown cause. Several cases of sarcoidosis in patients with lymphoma or cancer of the testis or lungs have been reported. There have been 19 reports of sarcoidosis with BC, but most are lacking in details. Sarcoidosis is commonly responsible for mediastinal lymph node enlargement, which can suggest metastases from the BC during the initial staging workup or during follow-up, leading to inappropriate chemotherapy. Clinical, radiological, and laboratory data should be carefully examined, and histologic confirmation by transbronchial biopsy, bronchoalveolar lavage, or even mediastinoscopy should be obtained in every case.