Phyllodes tumors of the breast: Analysis of 35 cases from a single institution.

Abstract Background Phyllodes tumors are rare fibroepithelial breast tumors with diverse biological behavior. Our study aim is to review the clinico-pathological features, prognostic factors and treatment outcome for patients presenting with phyllodes tumors of the breast to the Kuwait Cancer Control Center (KCCC). Patients and methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and pathological data of 35 women of histologically proved phyllodes tumors of the breast retrieved between January 1994 and December 2012. Results The median age was 40 years (21–63 years). The median pathological tumor size was 6.8 cm (3–25 cm). Histologically, one patient (3%) presented with benign, 13 (37%) with borderline and 21 (60%) with malignant phyllodes. Twenty-eight patients (80%) were premenopausal. Twenty (57%) were ultimately treated with mastectomy (3 borderline, and 17 malignant) and 15 (43%) with conservative surgery (1 benign, 10 borderline and 4 malignant). Axillary staging was carried out in 9 patients (1 borderline and 8 malignant), none of them had nodal metastasis. Four patients with malignant phyllodes received postoperative radiotherapy. After a median follow-up period of 52 months (range 5–211 months), 5 developed local recurrence (1 benign, 2 borderline and 2 malignant). One patient with malignant phyllodes developed distant lung metastasis. The overall 5-year relapse free survival (RFS) was 74% (68% for borderline and 84% for malignant phyllodes). According to the treatment modality, the 5-year RFS was 69% for conservative surgery compared to 87% for mastectomy. It was 100% for irradiated patients versus 71% for non irradiated patients. Conclusion Phyllodes tumors are rare tumors that occur in relatively young women, when compared with the classical adenocarcinoma of the breast. They have a tendency to reach large sizes with absence of nodal metastasis. Although surgery is the mainstay of management, postoperative radiotherapy also appears to decrease the local recurrence rates in certain presentations.