Cystosarcoma phylloides of the breast: a review of clinical, pathological and therapeutic option in 18 cases

Abstract

The clinical and pathological findings and therapeutic options in 18 patients with cystosarcoma phylloides were retrospectively studied and analysed. Painless breast lump was the most common clinical penetration. An accurate pre-operative diagnosis was obtained in only six patients (33.3%). Intraoperative frozen section examination was performed in nine patients and the diagnosis was cystosarcoma phylloides in five patients, benign breast tumor in four patients with a 55.5% yield. The final pathological results revealed benign form cystosarcoma phylloides in 17 patients and malignant form in one patient. Seven patients, including the one with malignant form tumor, underwent wide excision with an adequate margin of normal breast tissue. One patient underwent subcutaneous mastectomy due to the huge size of tumor. The remaining 11 patients with presumed diagnosis of fibroadenoma or breast cancer underwent simple excision. There was no local recurrence or distant metastasis in any of the 18 patients, with a mean follow-up time of 31.5 months. On the basis of this data, wide excision with an adequate margin of normal breast tissue may be the preferred initial therapy for cystosarcoma phylloides. For those patients undergoing simple excision, the follow-up option may be acceptable if microscopic examination reveals no unrecognised amputation of tumor.