Clinical patterns of a malignant phyllodes tumor: a case report

Phyllodes (phylloides) tumors of the breast are uncommon neoplasms accounting for not more than 1% of all breast tumors. The disease occurs in women of any age, more often at 40-50 years. At early stage, the disease has no specific clinical symptoms or diagnostic signs. In particular, according to Wang Sh. (2017), the clinical diagnosis can be made in some cases only based on the histological examination of the excised material. We present our case report of a malignant phyllodes tumor. A 50-year-old patient had been diagnosed with fibrocystic breast disease (FBD) in 2014. The patient was followed up for a long time, during which the disease was stable. A scheduled examination revealed an irregular lesion in the right breast consistent with fibroadenoma based on cytology findings. The mass had enlarged 4 times over 2 years of follow-up. The biopsy results showed a phyllodes tumor without signs of malignant growth. Conclusion. Women presenting with a breast mass lesion require a multidisciplinary approach for treatment decision. Core needle biopsy with histological and immunohistochemical analyses is the method of choice for the morphological diagnosis of large, rapidly growing tumors. A proper diagnostic tool enables early diagnosis.