Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Phyllodes tumors of the breast

  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Opinion statement

Phyllodes tumor is a rare fibroepithelial neoplasm of the breast with a very variable, but usually benign, course. Formerly known as cystosarcoma phyllodes, the designation “phyllodes tumor” with appropriate qualification regarding malignant potential based on pathologic features is now the agreed-upon term. The most important diagnostic distinction is from fibroadenoma—phyllodes tumors require complete excision with free margins even when pathologic features suggest benignity because of a proclivity to local recurrence. The most important component of therapy is wide surgical excision, and mastectomy is necessary only when free margins cannot be achieved without it. Involvement of axillary nodes is rare, and axillary dissection is not indicated. The role of radiation therapy and chemotherapy is not established and has not been studied in randomized trials due to the rarity of the tumor. At present, there is no consensus that patients with high-grade phyllodes tumors of the breast will benefit from either of these modalities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. Lee B, Pack G: Giant intracanalicular fibroadenomyxoma of the breast. Am J Cancer 1931, 15–2583.

  2. Bernstein L, Deapen D, Ross RK: The descriptive epidemiology of malignant cystosarcoma phyllodes tumors of the breast. Cancer 1993, 71:3020–3024.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Geisler DP, Boyle MJ, Malnar KF, et al.: Phyllodes tumors of the breast: a review of 32 cases. Am Surg 2000, 66:360–366.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Mangi AA, Smith BL, Gadd MA, et al.: Surgical management of phyllodes tumors. Arch Surg 1999, 134:487–492. Important review of results of surgical treatment.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Noguchi S, Yokouchi H, Aihara T, et al.: Progression of fibroadenoma to phyllodes tumor demonstrated by clonal analysis. Cancer 1995, 76:1779–1785.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Noguchi S, Aihara T, Koyama H, et al.: Clonal analysis of benign and malignant human breast tumors by means of polymerase chain reaction. Cancer Lett 1995, 90:57–63.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Chaney AW, Pollack A, McNeese MD, Zagars GK:Adjuvant radiotherapy for phyllodes tumor of breast. Radiat Oncol Investig 1998, 6:264–267.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Zissis C, Apostolikas N, Konstantinidou A, et al.: The extent of surgery and prognosis of patients with phyllodes tumor of the breast. Breast Cancer Res Treat 1998, 48:205–210.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Jorge BA, Vargas SB, Rodriguez RR, Martinez CE:Phyllodes tumors of the breast. Eur Radiol 1999, 9:356–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Ohta H, Komibuchi T, Nishio T, et al.: Technetium-99msestamibi scintimammography of benign and malignant phyllodes tumors. Ann Nucl Med 1997, 11:37–39.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Corpron CA, Black CT, Singletary SE, Andrassy RJ:Breast cancer in adolescent females. J Pediatr Surg 1995, 30:322–324.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Leveque J, Meunier B, Wattier E, et al.: Malignant cystosarcomas phyllodes of the breast in adolescent females. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 1994, 54:197–203.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Rajan PB, Cranor ML, Rosen PP: Cystosarcoma phyllodes in adolescent girls and young women: a study of 45 patients. Am J Surg Pathol 1998, 22:64–69. Highlights the natural history of phyllodes tumors in young patients.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Chaney AW, Pollack A, McNeese MD, et al.: Primary treatment of cystosarcoma phyllodes of the breast. Cancer 2000, 89:1502–1511. Largest recent series that discusses evidence for and against adjuvant XRT.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Powell CM, Rosen PP: Adipose differentiation in cystosarcoma phyllodes. A study of 14 cases. Am J Surg Pathol 1994, 18:720–727.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Silver SA, Tavassoli FA: Osteosarcomatous differentiation in phyllodes tumors. Am J Surg Pathol 1999, 23:815–821.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Reinfuss M, Mitus J, Smolak K, Stelmach A: Malignant phyllodes tumours of the breast. A clinical and pathological analysis of 55 cases. Eur J Cancer 1993, 29A:1252–1256.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Silverman JS, Tamsen A: Mammary fibroadenoma and some phyllodes tumour stroma are composed of CD34+ fibroblasts and factor XIIIa+ dendrophages. Histopathology 1996, 29:411–419.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Aranda FI, Laforga JB, Lopez JI: Phyllodes tumor of the breast. An immunohistochemical study of 28 cases with special attention to the role of myofibroblasts. Pathol Res Pract 1994, 190:471–481.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Umekita Y, Yoshida H: Immunohistochemical study of MIB1 expression in phyllodes tumor and fibroadenoma. Pathol Int 1999, 49:807–810.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Millar EK, Beretov J, Marr P, et al.: Malignant phyllodes tumours of the breast display increased stromal p53 protein expression. Histopathology 1999, 34:491–496.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Lu Y, Birdsall S, Osin P, et al.: Phyllodes tumors of the breast analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization and association of increased 1 q copy number with stromal overgrowth and recurrence. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 1997, 20:275–281.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Barth Jr RJ: Histologic features predict local recurrence after breast conserving therapy of phyllodes tumors. Breast Cancer Res Treat 1999, 57:291–295.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. McGregor GI, Knowling MA, Este FA: Sarcoma and cystosarcoma phyllodes tumors of the breast—a retrospective review of 58 cases. Am J Surg 1994, 167:477–480.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Staren ED, Lynch G, Boyle C, et al.: Malignant cystosarcoma phyllodes. Am Surg 1994, 60:583–585.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Moffat CJ, Pinder SE, Dixon AR, et al.: Phyllodes tumours of the breast: a clinicopathological review of thirty-two cases. Histopathology 1995, 27:205–218.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. de Roos WK, Kaye P, Dent DM: Factors leading to local recurrence or death after surgical resection of phyllodes tumours of the breast [see comments]. Br J Surg 1999, 86:396–399.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Hawkins RE, Schofield JB, Wiltshaw E, et al.: Ifosfamide is an active drug for chemotherapy of metastatic cystosarcoma phyllodes. Cancer 1992, 69:2271–2275.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Allen R, Nixon D, York M, Coleman J: Successful chemotherapy for cystosarcoma phyllodes in a young woman. Arch Intern Med 1985, 145:1127–1128.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Burton GV, Hart LL, Leight Jr GS, et al.: Cystosarcoma phyllodes. Effective therapy with cisplatin and etoposide chemotherapy. Cancer 1989, 63:2088–2092.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Chua CL, Thomas A, Ng BK: Cystosarcoma phyllodes— Asian variations. Aust N Z J Surg 1988, 58:301–305.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Stebbing JF, Nash AG: Diagnosis and management of phyllodes tumour of the breast: experience of 33 cases at a specialist centre. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 1995, 77:181–184.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Surgical Oncology, Northwestern Medical School, 675 N. St. Clair Street, Galter-10, 60611, Chicago, IL, USA

    Seema A. Khan MD & Sunil Badve MD, MRCPath

Authors
  1. Seema A. Khan MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sunil Badve MD, MRCPath
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Khan, S.A., Badve, S. Phyllodes tumors of the breast. Curr. Treat. Options in Oncol. 2, 139–147 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-001-0056-y

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-001-0056-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation