A CASE OF MALIGNANT PHYLLODES TUMOR OF THE BREAST DIAGNOSED BY ASPIRATION BIOPSY CYTOLOGY

We report a case of malignant phyllodes tumor of the breast which is relatively rare. A 45-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of a rapidly growing mass (6.5×6.5cm) in the left breast. An aspiration biopsy cytology offered a suspicion of malignant phyllodes tumor because of the presence of cells with a highly atypical nuclei, irregular swelling of the nucleous and rough distribution of chromatin. After a modified radical mastectomy, the preoperative diagnosis of malignant phyllodes tumor was histopathologically confirmed. Immunohistologically, the tumor stained positive for c-erbB-2 and negative for estrogen receptors. At present, 1 year 6 months after the surgery, the patient has shown no signs of recurrence or metastasis The definitive diagnosis of the disease can be made postoperatively in many cases. In this case aspiration biopsy cytology is considered a useful procedure to differentiate malignant tumors from benign ones. The relation between malignant phyllodes tumor and c-erbB-2 expression has not been clarified as yet.