Phyllodes Tumor, a peculiar breast tumor

This peculiar tumor exhibits a spectrum of behavior, ranging from the benign to the malignant.

Phyllodes (meaning leave-like) tumors are rare breast tumors. They account for less than 1% of all breast tumors. The condition was first described by Johannes Muller in 1838. It affects women almost exclusively. It tends to occur in women aged between 40 and 50, but can occasionally be found in adolescence. This peculiar tumor exhibits a spectrum of behavior, ranging from the benign to the malignant. Doctors classify the disease as benign, borderline and malignant depending on how malignant its features are in the particular situation.

Clinically, it presents as a breast lump which grows rapidly. When it is large, it gives the overlying skin dilated veins, a bluish discoloration and pressure related skin changes. Imaging studies and even fine needle aspiration may not be adequate to establish the diagnosis, which is often made by excisional biopsy (removal of the lump).

Some doctors suggest removal of the tumor with a resection margin of 1cm to improve control of the disease. Simple mastectomy (removal of the whole breast) is indicated for very large tumors or for the tumors exhibiting malignant features. Axillary dissection (removal of lymph nodes in the arm-pit) is usually not required even in case of malignant phyllodes tumor, in contrast to breast cancer. Local recurrence rate is around 15%. Malignant histological (tissue appearance) type and large size of the tumor increase the chance of local recurrence.

Dr Benson Yeung's related hub: How To Treat A Breast Fibroadenoma

MRI image of Phyllodes Tumor

Print Share it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub

Comments

RSS for comments on this Hub

Shalini Kagal says:
10 months ago

Thanks Doc for the informative hub!

Benson Yeung says:
10 months ago

Dear Shalini Kagal,

thanks for dropping by and commenting.

einron says:
10 months ago

Thanks for the hub.

Dottie1 says:
10 months ago

Thank you Doctor Benson.

Benson Yeung says:
10 months ago

Dear einron,

thanks for commenting.

Benson Yeung says:
10 months ago

Dear Dottie1,

thanks for commenting.

BeatsMe says:
10 months ago

Hi. I thought there is only one kind of breast cancer. Thanks for good info. :)

Benson Yeung says:
10 months ago

Hi BeatsMe,

sounds like my hub did beat you. Thanks for commenting.

quicksand says:
10 months ago

Beats me too, since I have absolutely nothing to say here, as this hub is exclusively for ladies.

Benson Yeung says:
10 months ago

Hi quicksand,

thanks for dropping by and commenting.

Jerilee Wei says:
10 months ago

I think this is an important topic to bring to the attention of the public. Here in the U.S. when diagnosed with breast cancer they give you a ton of material on the various kinds -- but looked back and no mention was made of this form.

Another topic I found lacking, having had a masectomy in November for invasive breast cancer was no one, or no literature, discussing the role of lymph nodes and what having them removed involved.

Benson Yeung says:
10 months ago

Hi Jerilee Wei,

thanks for commenting. There is abundant medical literature discussing the importance of treating the lymph nodes. However, very little of this has found its way into literature written for the lay public. That's where good journalists can fit in to turn technical information into a good read. Some writers at New York Times are actually doing a great job

(see http://www.nytimes.com/pages/health/index.html )

regards,

Jerilee Wei says:
10 months ago

Thanks for the link to the New York Times -- seems like a good place to keep up with health issues. I guess for me -- I knew we had lymph nodes, but didn't understand what their role was, especially with breast cancer. It was very frightening to be told that nuclear medicine couldn't find mine, the day before the surgery -- that they ran away was the medical joke.

However, I'm eternally grateful that they were located on the operating table. Those harvested lymph nodes gave up their lives for me to prove no lymph node involvement -- meaning no chemo or radiation -- just Anastrozole for the next five years.

I think we need more hubs explaining things in lay terms to make such life events less intimidating.

Benson Yeung says:
10 months ago

Hi Jerilee,

thanks for your follow on comments. I agree entirely. I agree with your comment entirely and look forward to seeing further development of better medical journalism.

carol-anne howard says:
3 weeks ago

i have just been diagnosed with this condition and am about to undergo a double mastectomy i had never heard of this condition before and my doctors only had one leaflet on this condition i have found out more abouit it on the net

Benson Yeung says:
3 weeks ago

Hi carol-anne howard,

best of luck with your surgery. the condition usually carries a good prognosis.

	3B Scientific Single Breast w. benign tumor Price: $93.46 List Price: $170.00
	Malignant Mixed Tumor Breast Tissue Section Photographic Poster Print, 32x24 Price: $49.99
	Cancer Be Gone Price: $15.95
	American Cancer Society Film: Time is Life (1949) [DVD] Price: $9.99 List Price: $12.99