Ruptured phyllodes tumors of the breast: a comprehensive case series and literature review on clinical challenges

Phyllodes tumors are rare fibroepithelial breast neoplasms, predominantly affecting women aged 35 to 55. While most phyllodes tumors are manageable, those exceeding 10 cm, termed giant phyllodes tumors, can lead to rare complications such as breast rupture due to rapid growth and pressure necrosis. This study presents three cases of ruptured phyllodes tumors treated at Chiang Mai University Hospital, along with a review of previously reported cases, highlighting the associated clinical challenges and treatment strategies. Surgical intervention, typically through wide local excision, is the standard treatment. However, in ruptured cases, which often present as extensive masses involving the entire breast, surgical management is more complex and may necessitate a mastectomy. Given the limited number of reported cases and our own findings, the benefit of adjuvant radiotherapy following mastectomy remains unclear. The low recurrence rate among patients who did not receive radiotherapy raises questions about its necessity.