Cystosarcoma phyllodes in young women

A total of eight cases of cystosarcoma phyllodes in women under 25 years of age were reported to the Swedish Cancer Registry during a ten-year period (1960 to 1969). Only one of these tumors was malignant. It was successfully treated with simple mastectomy and postoperative radiation therapy. Of the remaining seven cases, six were treated with local excision of the lesion and one with simple mastectomy. In no case, did the tumor recur during a follow-up of an average of ten years. Local excision seems to be sufficient for the benign form of the tumor, whereas simple mastectomy is indicated for the malignant form. Radical mastectomy is indicated only of the tumor has invaded the pectoral fascia. The tumor rarely metastasizes to the axillary lymph nodes.