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Contemporary Management of Phyllodes Tumors

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  • Published:
Current Breast Cancer Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purposeof Review

Phyllodes tumors (PT) are rare fibroepithelial lesions of the breast. It is critical to understand the behavior of benign, borderline, and malignant PT so as to recommend appropriate treatment. This review describes findings on diagnostic testing and pathology that differentiate these tumors, as well as recommended management.

Recent Findings

Better understanding of outcomes following PT resection has led to changes in local therapy recommendations, with wide margins (> 1 cm) strongly recommended for malignant PT only. Other PT may be resected with smaller (or no) margin without impact on local recurrence risk. Adjuvant radiation should be considered in malignant PT or when local recurrence would lead to significant morbidity.

Summary

Benign and borderline PT may not require wide margins at excision for optimal local control. Malignant PT should be resected with wide margins and consideration given to adjuvant radiation therapy.

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Data Availability

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Valerie Hope Goldstein for her assistance with the preparation of this manuscript. We thank Leah Portnow, MD, for the breast imaging pictures and Stuart Schnitt, MD, for the pathology image.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Tina Bharani

  2. Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 450 Brookline Ave, Yawkey Suite 1436, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Laura S. Dominici

  3. Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Laura S. Dominici

  4. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Laura S. Dominici

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  1. Tina Bharani
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T.B. and L.D. wrote the manuscript and reviewed. T.B. prepared the tables.

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Correspondence to Laura S. Dominici.

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Bharani, T., Dominici, L.S. Contemporary Management of Phyllodes Tumors. Curr Breast Cancer Rep (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-024-00536-3

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