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Phyllodes tumors of the breast
A Jorge Blanco1, B Vargas Serrano, R Rodríguez Romero
1Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Hospital Severo Ochoa, Madrid, Spain.
European Radiology
|April 2, 1999
Summary
Radiological findings for phyllodes tumors of the breast do not reliably predict malignancy. Histopathology after surgical excision is crucial for accurate diagnosis and assessing tumor behavior.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Phyllodes tumors of the breast are rare fibroepithelial neoplasms.
- Distinguishing benign from malignant phyllodes tumors preoperatively is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate clinical, mammographic, and sonographic findings of phyllodes tumors with their pathological nature and clinical behavior.
- To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration biopsy for phyllodes tumors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 12 phyllodes tumor cases (6 malignant) over 6 years.
- Analysis of clinical, mammographic, sonographic, and histopathologic findings.
- Review of surgical management and patient follow-up.
Main Results:
- Mammographic and sonographic features were not predictive of malignancy.
- Fine-needle aspiration biopsy diagnosed phyllodes tumor in only 3 of 12 cases, often misdiagnosing them as fibroadenomas.
- Tumor recurrence occurred in 3 patients (1 benign, 2 malignant) after local excision.
- Histopathologic examination of the excised mass was the only reliable method for assessing malignancy.
Conclusions:
- Clinical and imaging characteristics are insufficient for differentiating benign from malignant phyllodes tumors.
- Preoperative biopsy has limited accuracy for phyllodes tumors.
- Histopathological analysis of the surgical specimen is essential for definitive diagnosis and treatment planning.