Phyllodes tumor

Phyllodes tumor
Classification and external resources
Micrograph of a phyllodes tumor (right of image) with the characteristic long clefts and myxoid cellular stroma. Normal breast and fibrocystic change are also seen (left of image). H&E stain.
ICD-10	C50, D24, D48.6
ICD-9	217
ICD-O:	M9020
DiseasesDB	3396
eMedicine	med/500
MeSH	D003557

Phyllodes tumors (from Greek: phullon leaf), also cystosarcoma phyllodes, cystosarcoma phylloides and phylloides tumor, are typically large, fast growing masses that form from the periductal stromal cells of the breast. They account for less than 1% of all breast neoplasms.

Classification

Phyllodes tumors are a fibroepithelial tumor composed of an epithelial and a cellular stromal component. They may be considered benign, borderline, or malignant depending on histologic features including stromal cellularity, infiltration at the tumor's edge, and mitotic activity. All forms of phyllodes tumors are regarded as having malignant potential. They are also known as serocystic disease of Brodie.

They are classified as a fibroepithelial tumor by ICD-O, but not by MeSH.

Approximately 60-70% of examined tumors are benign, the proportion of benign cases is higher in young women.

Presentation

This was predominantly the tumor of adult women, with very few examples reported in adolescents. Patients typically present with a firm, palpable mass. These tumors are very fast growing, and can increase in size in just a few weeks. Occurrence is most common between the ages of 40 and 50, prior to menopause. This is about 15 years older than the typical age of patients with fibroadenoma, a condition with which phyllodes tumors may be confused. They have been documented to occur at any age above 12 years.

Treatment

The common treatment for phyllodes is wide local excision. Other than surgery, there is no cure for phyllodes, as chemotherapy and radiation therapy are not effective. The risk of developing local recurrence or metastases is related to the histologic grade, according to the above-named features. Despite wide excision a very high percentage of surgeries yielded incomplete excision margins that required revision surgery.

One study has suggested that total mastectomy is more effective than breast-conserving surgery.

A recent study (Aug 2009) by Barth et al. suggests that radiation treatment after breast-conserving surgery with negative margins significantly reduces the local recurrence rate for borderline and malignant tumors.

Spectrum

Phyllodes tumors are considered to be on a spectrum of disease that consists of fibroadenoma, fibroadenoma variant and benign phyllodes. Some would extend the spectrum to include malignant phyllodes tumors and frank sarcoma.^{[citation needed]}

External links

• Phyllodes Tumor Support Forums
• Phyllodes Tumor Group - We have over 180 members waiting to give you support and share information.
• Cystosarcoma Phyllodes
• Phyllodes Support Group
• Phyllodes group on Facebook