Organoid models derived from patients with malignant phyllodes tumor of the breast.

PURPOSE: Phyllodes tumor of the breast is a kind of rare neoplasm, which accounts for less than 1% of all breast tumors. Malignant phyllodes tumor (MPT) is the highest risk subtype of phyllodes tumor, and is characterized by the tendency of local recurrence and distant metastasis. The prediction of prognosis and the individual therapy for MPT is still challenging. It's urgent to develop a new reliable in vitro preclinical model in order to understand this disease better and to explore appropriate anticancer drugs for individual patients. METHODS: Two surgically resected MPT specimens were processed for organoid establishment. MPT organoids were subsequently subjected to H&E staining, immunohistochemical analysis and drug screening, respectively. RESULTS: We successfully established two organoid lines from different patients with MPT. The MPT organoids can well retain the histological features and capture the marker expression in original tumor tissues, including p63, vimentin, Bcl-2, CD34, c-Kit, and Ki-67, even after a long-term culture. The dose titration tests of eight typical chemotherapeutic drugs (paclitaxel, docetaxel, vincristine, doxorubicin, cisplatin, gemcitabine, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide) on the two MPT organoid lines showed patient-specific drug responses and varying IC50 values. Of all the drugs, doxorubicin and gemcitabine showed the best anti-tumor effect on the two organoid lines. CONCLUSION: Organoids derived from MPT may be a novel preclinical model for testing personalized therapies for patients with MPT.

Clinical perspectives and outcomes of the giant breast phyllodes tumor and sarcoma: a real-world retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Giant breast malignant phyllodes tumor or sarcoma (GBPS) are rare entities with diameter larger than 10 cm and variously histological pleomorphisms. This disease poses a significant threat to the quality of life of individuals, and its prognosis remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of GBPS in a real-world retrospective cohort. METHODS: We collected GBPS (diameter > 10 cm, n = 10) and BPS (diameter ≤ 10 cm, n = 126) from patients diagnosed with sarcoma or malignant phyllodes tumor between 2008 and 2022. We analyzed clinical characteristics, histological status, treatment, and local recurrence using the Fisher's exact test between GBPS (diameter > 10 cm) and BPS (diameter ≤ 10 cm) cohort. We described overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) using Kaplan-Meier curves and identified risk factors for local recurrence using logistic regression. The tumor size, age at diagnosis, and differential immunohistochemistry markers of breast sarcoma or phyllodes tumor to determine the prognosis of GBPS. RESULTS: In our retrospective analysis of breast malignancies, we identified 10 cases of GBPS and 126 cases of BPS, corresponding to a GBPS prevalence of 0.17% (10/6000). The median age was 38.5 years (inter-quartile range, IQR: 28.25-48.5 years). During the follow-up of period (median: 80.5 months, IQR: 36.75-122 months), the local recurrence (LR) rate was 40% and 20.6%, respectively. Clinical characteristics of young age (HR:2.799, 95%CI -00.09276-0.017, p < 0.05) and cytological characteristics of marked stromal atypia (HR:0.88, 95% CI 0.39-1.40, p < 0.05) were risk factors for the poor prognosis of GBPS by COX regression model analysis. The Kaplan-Meier curves of GBPS 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 31.5 months and 40 months, respectively, and were not associated with adjuvant radiation or chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: We recommend mastectomy with a clear surgical margin as the preferred treatment for GBPS. Age and stromal atypia are significantly associated with recurrence. Adjuvant radiation therapy is advised; however, there was no improvement in overall survival. There is no consensus on the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy and genetic methods, highlighting the need for further research into this aggressive tumor. We recommend a multidisciplinary approach involving a dedicated team for the management of GBPS.

Malignant phyllodes tumor of the breast: a systematic review.

Phyllodes tumors (PT) are fibroepithelial neoplasms of the breast showing a peculiar leaf-like appearance. They account for 0.3 to 1% of all primary breast tumors and 2.5% of all fibroepithelial breast tumors. PT are classified into benign, borderline and malignant based upon their stromal morphology with a distribution of 60%, 20%, and 20%, respectively. Malignant PT of the breast constitute an uncommon challenging group of fibroepithelial neoplasms. They have a relatively high tendency to recur, although distant metastasis is uncommon, and nearly exclusive to malignant PT. Adequate surgical resection remains the standard approach to achieve maximal local control. Giant malignant PT are rare and a pose a diagnostic dilemma for pathologists, especially when comprised of sarcomatous elements. This review highlights the morphological features of PT detected in cytology and histology specimens and discusses diagnostic pitfalls and differential diagnosis.

Successful Treatment of a Locally Recurrent and Metastatic Malignant Phyllodes Tumor with Accelerated Radiotherapy and Nab-Paclitaxel, Cisplatin, and Liposomal Doxorubicin Chemotherapy.

Phyllodes tumors are rare breast lesions of fibroepithelial origin. Malignant transformation with metastases is linked with poor prognosis. We present a case of a 62-year-old woman with a recurrent malignant phyllodes tumor of the breast and lung metastases. The patient was originally presented with a borderline phyllodes tumor (7.4 cm) of the left breast, treated with wide local excision. A year later, the patient returned with palpable left breast masses. On PET-CT, increased uptake of 18F-FDG by large breast tumors was evident. A right lung lesion of metastatic origin was also present. A simple left breast mastectomy was performed. Histopathological report described 2 malignant phyllodes tumors (7 cm and 6.5 cm). One month later, during the CT simulation for radiotherapy planning, encysted fluid in the chest wall and 2 additional pulmonary lesions of the right lung were identified, confirming progressive lung metastatic disease. Both the chest wall and the regional lymph node area were irradiated with hypofractionated and accelerated radiotherapy. Biweekly chemotherapy with albumin-bound paclitaxel, cisplatin, and liposomal doxorubicin was also prescribed at the start of radiotherapy for 12 cycles. At the end of chemotherapy, complete regression of lung metastases was achieved, and there was no evidence of local recurrence. Within 2 years of follow-up, the patient is free of disease and treatment-related toxicities. Accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy is effective in the locoregional control of malignant phyllodes tumors. The combination of cisplatin with nab-paclitaxel and liposomal doxorubicin chemotherapy has acceptable toxicity and is highly effective in eradicating metastatic lesions.

Non-invasive ductal carcinoma within malignant phyllodes tumor of the breast.

Phyllodes tumors are uncommon breast neoplasms that constitute of 1-2% of breast malignancies. The tumor can mimic fibroadenoma clinically, radiologically and histologically. Ductal carcinoma in-situ in the epithelial component of phyllodes tumor is very rare. When ductal carcinoma in-situ is detected within the specimen, the management of treatment changes completely. We report a rare case of low grade ductal carcinoma in-situ arising in a malignant phyllodes tumor in a 55-year-old female patient.

A giant malignant phyllodes tumor of breast post mastectomy with metastasis to stomach manifesting as anemia: a case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Phyllodes tumors (PTs) are well known for local recurrence and progression. Less than 10% of these tumors grow larger than 10 cm. Distant metastases have been reported in up to 22% of malignant PTs, with most metastases being discovered in the lungs. PTs of the breast rarely metastasize to the gastrointestinal tract, and reported cases are scarce. To date, a review of the English literature revealed only 3 cases, including our case, of PTs metastasis to stomach. CASE PRESENTATION: An 82-year-old female patient had 10-year-duration of palpable huge tumor on left breast which was in rapid growth in recent months. Total mastectomy of left breast was performed thereafter, and pathology diagnosis was malignant phyllodes tumor. Adjuvant radiotherapy was suggested while she declined out of personal reasons initially. For PTs recurred locally on left chest wall 2 months later, and excision of the recurrent PTs was performed. She, at length, completed adjuvant radiation therapy since then. Six months later, she was diagnosed of metastasis to stomach due to severe anemia with symptom of melena. Gastrostomy with tumor excision was performed for uncontrollable tumor bleeding. CONCLUSION: For PTs presenting as anemia without known etiologies, further studies are suggested to rule out possible gastrointestinal tract metastasis though such cases are extremely rare. Management of metastatic gastric tumor from PTs should be done on a case-to-case basis, surgical intervention may be needed if there is persistent active bleeding despite medical treatment. Adjuvant radiotherapy is recommended in borderline and malignant PTs with tumor-free margin < 1 cm and high-risk malignant tumors. Adjuvant chemotherapy or target therapy may be helpful for metastatic PTs. Molecular and genomic techniques may predict clinical outcomes of benign and borderline PTs more precisely.

Accuracy and clinical implications of pre-operative breast core needle biopsy diagnoses of fibroepithelial neoplasms and sarcomatoid carcinomas.

PURPOSE: Accurate classification of breast phyllodes tumors (PTs) on core biopsy can be challenging. The differential diagnosis of benign PT (BP) is fibroadenoma (FA), whereas the differential diagnosis of malignant PT (MP) is sarcomatoid (metaplastic) carcinoma (SC). METHODS: Here, we compare the pre-excision core biopsy diagnosis and clinicopathologic features of histologically confirmed MP, borderline PT (BLP), BP, FA, and SC. Consecutive cases of 34 histologically confirmed PT (14 MP, 10 BLP, 10 BP), 13 SC, and 10 FA were identified. RESULTS: A core biopsy diagnosis of SC was made only in SC (77%, p = 0.003). The diagnosis "malignant neoplasm" or "atypical spindle cell neoplasm" was made in 100% MP and 23% SC, but no other tumor (p = 0.0001). The diagnosis "phyllodes tumor" was made only in PT (44% BLP, 11% BP, p = 0.06). The diagnosis "fibroepithelial lesion" was made in 44% BLP, 67% BP, and 29% FA. The diagnosis "FA" was made most commonly in FA (57%) (versus 22% BP and no other tumor; p = 0.002). Neoadjuvant therapy was given only in SC (23%, p = 0.03); adjuvant therapy was given in 46% SC and 13% MP (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: A pre-operative core biopsy diagnosis of "malignant spindle cell neoplasm" separates MP and SC from BLP, BP, and FA. However, MP and SC can have overlapping features on core biopsy. Thus, one must be careful not to overcall SC on core biopsy, as patients diagnosed with SC may receive neoadjuvant therapy. A core biopsy diagnosis of "phyllodes tumor" is specific for PT and can guide treatment planning of a wide local excision.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization improves the resectability of malignant breast phyllodes tumor with angiosarcoma component: a case report.

BACKGROUND: A giant phyllodes tumor of the breast is a rare fibroepithelial lesion, and its treatment is controversial. Many case reports have reported performing skin graft reconstruction after tumor excision. Chest wall resection may be required if the tumor has invaded the chest muscle layer. We speculated that transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) can improve the resectability of malignant phyllodes tumor of the breast without requiring skin grafting. The English literature contains only one case report similar to our experience. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a rare case of a 51-year-old woman who had a giant malignant phyllodes tumor with heterologous sarcomatous differentiation in her right breast. The tumor was 19.43 × 12.98 × 21.47 cm. Whole-body computed tomography (CT) and bone scan did not reveal distant metastasis. Chest magnetic resonance imaging showed chest wall tumor invasion. Considering that skin defects after mastectomy can be extensive, we administered four courses of chemoembolization in the 5 weeks before surgery (30 mg of epirubicin and embozene microspheres [400, 500, and 700 µm]/week). Each process was well tolerated, with no serious complications. Only fever and local pain at the tumor site were noted, and these symptoms resolved with time. The follow-up CT scan showed a 45% reduction in tumor volume. Therefore, simple mastectomy was performed without skin grafting reconstruction. Wound healing was satisfactory, and the patient was discharged 1 week after surgery. Pathological and immunohistochemistry (IHC) findings showed a malignant phyllodes tumor with an angiosarcoma component. Because of tumor invasion of the chest wall, we recommended the patient receive radiotherapy, but she refused. Two months after surgery, recurrence of the malignant phyllodes tumor with right axillary lymph node involvement and lung metastasis was confirmed. CONCLUSION: Initial surgical resection of giant phyllodes tumors is often challenging. For initial presentation with unresectable giant phyllodes tumor, we recommend to perform TACE prior to surgery. In our patient, preoperative TACE was effective and safe. If the tumor has invaded the chest wall, early radiotherapy after surgery may be recommended for preventing recurrence.

Malignant and borderline phyllodes tumors of the breast: a multicenter study of 362 patients (KROG 16-08).

PURPOSE: To identify risk factors for local recurrence (LR) and investigate roles of adjuvant local therapy for malignant and borderline phyllodes tumors of the breast. METHODS: From 1981 to 2014, 362 patients with malignant (n = 235) and borderline (n = 127) phyllodes tumors were treated by breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or total mastectomy (TM) at 10 centers. Thirty-one patients received adjuvant radiation therapy (RT), and those who received adjuvant chemotherapy were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 5 years. LR developed in 60 (16.6%) patients. Regional recurrence occurred in 2 (0.6%) patients and distant metastasis (DM) developed in 19 (5.2%) patients. Patients receiving BCS (p = 0.025) and those not undergoing adjuvant RT (p = 0.041) showed higher LR rates. For malignant subtypes, local control (LC) rates at 5 years for BCS alone, BCS with adjuvant RT, TM alone, and TM with adjuvant RT were 80.7, 93.3, 92.4, and 100%, respectively (p = 0.033). Multivariate analyses revealed BCS alone, tumor size ≥ 5 cm, and positive margins as independent risk factors for LR. Margin-positive BCS alone showed poorest LC regardless of tumor size (62.5%, p = 0.007). For margin-negative BCS alone, 5-year LC rates for tumors ≥ 5 cm versus those < 5 cm were 71.8% versus 89.5% (p = 0.012). For borderline subtypes, only positive margins (p = 0.044) independently increased the risk of LR. DM developed exclusively in malignant subtypes and a prior LR event increased the risk of DM by sixfold (HR 6.2, 95% CI 1.6-16.1, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Malignant and borderline phyllodes tumors with positive margins after surgery have high LR rates. After treatment by margin-negative BCS alone, patients with large malignant phyllodes tumors ≥ 5 cm also have heightened risk of LR. Thus, such patients should be considered for additional local therapy.

Comprehensive genomic profiling of malignant phyllodes tumors of the breast.

PURPOSE: Malignant phyllodes tumors (MPT) are exceptionally rare, and the genomic drivers of these tumors are still being elucidated. We performed comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) of MPT to identify genomic alterations that will inform approaches to targeted therapy for patients with MPT, including relapsed, refractory, and metastatic disease. METHODS: DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples from 24 consecutive patient cases of MPT. CGP was performed using a hybrid capture, adaptor ligation-based next generation sequencing assay to a high, uniform coverage (mean, 582×). Tumor mutational burden (TMB) was calculated from a minimum of 1.14 Mb of sequenced DNA as previously described and reported as mutations/Mb. The results were analyzed for all classes of genomic alterations, including short variants (SV; base substitutions, small insertions, and deletions), rearrangements, and copy number changes, including amplifications and homozygous deletions. RESULTS: The 24 cases of MPT included 15 patients with localized and 9 with metastatic disease. The median TMB was 2.7 mut/Mb, and no cases had a TMB > 10 mut/Mb. 20 out of 24 cases were evaluable for microsatellite status, and all were microsatellite stable. The most commonly mutated genes were TP53 (58.3%), TERT-promoter (57.9%), NF1 (45.8%), MED12 (45.8%), CDKN2A/B (33.3%), and MLL2 (33.3%). Targetable kinase fusions including KIAA1549-BRAF or FGFR3-TACC3 were identified in 2/24 (8.3%) tumors. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies clinically relevant genomic alterations that suggest novel targeted therapy approaches for patients with MPT.

Comparison of the clinical and prognostic features of primary breast sarcomas and malignant phyllodes tumor.

OBJECTIVE: Primary breast sarcoma is a kind of extremely rare disease. Malignant phyllodes tumor represents a specific subset of breast soft tissue tumors. So till now, the classification and clinical management of primary breast sarcoma and malignant phyllodes tumor are controversial. The aim of this study is to explore the differences in clinical features, treatment, disease-free survival and overall survival between primary breast sarcoma and malignant phyllodes tumor group. METHODS: A retrospective review of 35 cases with primary breast sarcoma and 70 cases with malignant phyllodes tumor registered from 1995 to 2010 was carried out in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital. Prognosis in terms of disease-free survival and overall survival was evaluated. RESULTS: In primary breast sarcoma group, the result of univariate analysis demonstrated that surgical type, histopathological nodal status and local recurrence were significantly correlated with disease-free survival and overall survival. While, the result of monofactorial analysis showed the tumor size was significant prognostic indicator of disease-free survival and overall survival in malignant phyllodes tumor group. The Kaplan-Meier curves for 5-year disease-free survival rates and overall survival rates demonstrated that no significant difference was found between the primary breast sarcoma and malignant phyllodes tumor group (P = 0.702 and 0.772, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The primary breast sarcoma patients had identical disease-free survival and overall survival compared with the malignant phyllodes tumor patients, which indicated that primary breast sarcoma and malignant phyllodes tumor patients should be treated with the same strategies. Surgical management is important for both the primary breast sarcoma and malignant phyllodes tumor patients. The role of the adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy remains uncertain.

Malignant Phyllodes Tumor in a Pubertal Girl: A Report of a Case.

BACKGROUND: Malignant phyllodes tumor (MPT) is a rare breast disease that is extremely rare in children. A few cases of pediatric malignant phyllodes tumors have been reported, including some with a poor prognosis. CASE: A 14-year-old girl presented with a growing lump on her right breast. On the basis of imaging tests and a core needle biopsy, MPT was diagnosed, and right mastectomy was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: MPT is an infrequent disease in adult females and is extremely rare in pubertal females. It occasionally shows rapid growth, metastasis, and recurrence with a poor prognosis. Early surgical resection is necessary to obtain a cure. When a rapidly growing breast tumor is observed in pubertal females, MPT should be considered.

Malignant Phyllodes Tumors of the Breast With Rhabdomyosarcomatous Differentiation: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Phyllodes tumor (PT) is a rare fibroepithelial breast neoplasm that is typically graded histopathologically as benign, borderline, and malignant. Malignant PTs (MPTs) exhibit marked stromal cellularity, atypia, overgrowth, increased mitotic activity, and the propensity to metastasize. MPTs represent 10%-15% of all PT cases and often have a notably aggressive disease course. Infrequently, these tumors contain heterologous histological elements, including liposarcoma and fibrosarcoma, among others. Rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation is an exceptionally rare example of such variation. This report documents the clinical presentation and disease course of a 62-year-old woman diagnosed with MPT with rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation, just the seventh such confirmed case in the English literature. The patient experienced an arduous disease course, developing metastases to her lungs and axial skeleton just months after her initial diagnosis. Palliative radiation and chemotherapy were initiated, but the patient unfortunately succumbed to her disease just 10 months after the initial diagnosis. This case adds to the scarce literature surrounding the rare development of a heterologous rhabdomyosarcomatous element in an MPT, as well as the decision-making process surrounding the use of radiation to treat such lesions. The details discussed in this paper may inform future approaches for patients diagnosed with this disease.

Massive malignant phyllodes tumor accompanied by anemia and ulceration in the breast: A case report.

Large malignant breast phyllodes tumors are uncommon in clinical settings. Here, we report such a case to provide a reference for clinical work. A 48-year-old woman identified a lump in her right breast, which eventually grew up to 25 cm × 10 cm and began to rapidly bleed and ulcerate within 3 months. The patient had visible signs of anemia and significant emaciation as a result of the tumor's wasting effect and the protracted course of the disease. The patient underwent a modified radical mastectomy on the right breast. The pathology results obtained after surgery revealed a malignant phyllodes tumor. No adjuvant therapy, such as chemotherapy or radiation, was administered. The patient had no symptoms of tumor recurrence and complications from the surgery after a follow-up of 9 months.

Better survival was found in patients treated with breast-conserving surgery compared with mastectomy in malignant phyllodes tumor of the breast.

Malignant phyllodes tumor of the breast (MPTB) is a rare type of breast cancer. The prognosis between breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and mastectomy remains unclear in MPTB. Therefore, long-term survival was investigated between BCS and mastectomy in MPTB via the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. MPTB patients with T1-2/N0 stage between 2000 and 2015 from SEER database were retrospectively reviewed. Prognosis between different surgical approaches was assessed by Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards analysis. A total of 795 patients were enrolled with a median follow-up of 126 months. BCS was associated with significantly increased 10-year overall survival (OS) (89.2% vs. 81.1%, p = 0.002) and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) (95.2% vs. 90%, p = 0.004) compared with mastectomy. Multivariate analysis showed better OS (HR = 0.587, 95% CI 0.406-0.850, p = 0.005) and BCSS (HR = 0.463, 95%CI 0.267-0.804, p = 0.006) in the BCS group than the mastectomy group. After 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), improved 10-year OS (89.2% vs.81%, p = 0.023) and BCSS (95.8% vs. 90.1%, p = 0.033) were observed in BCS compared with mastectomy. This study found the survival benefit of BCS over mastectomy in patients with early-stage MPTB. BCS should be recommended as a priority in MPTB patients when both surgical approaches are feasible.

Multi-recurrent Asynchronous Bilateral Malignant Phyllodes.

In this comprehensive study, we present an exceptionally rare case characterized by the occurrence of multi-recurrent asynchronous bilateral malignant phyllodes tumors. Phyllodes tumors, known for their rapid growth, originate within the stromal tissue of the breast and predominantly manifest as benign entities. Our case stands out as an extraordinary anomaly, not only due to its bilateral malignant nature but also owing to the manifestation of a multi-recurrent pattern on both sides. This unprecedented presentation underscores the complexity and heterogeneity of malignant phyllodes tumors, necessitating further in-depth investigation to unravel the underlying mechanisms driving their aggressive behavior and to explore innovative therapeutic strategies aimed at optimizing patient outcomes and prognosis.

Malignant phyllodes tumor with EGFR variant III mutation: A rare case report with immunohistochemical and genomic studies.

A female in her 60's presented with a left-sided breast mass. A core needle biopsy specimen showed diffuse proliferation of a round cell tumor, which was positive for vimentin, NKX2.2, BCOR, and focal CD99 on immunohistochemistry (IHC). No fusion genes of the Ewing family sarcomas were detected. With a tentative diagnosis of primary breast sarcoma (PBS), total mastectomy was performed after chemotherapy. The resected tissues showed proliferation of round or spindle-shaped tumor cells with a high nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio, exhibiting solid and fascicular arrangements but no epithelial component or organoid pattern. While IHC indicated no particular histological diagnosis, genomic examination revealed gene alterations in MED12 p.G44D, MLL2 (KMT2D) p.T1496fs*27, and EGFR variant III (vIII). Moreover, a retrospective IHC study showed overexpression of EGFRvIII. A malignant phyllodes tumor (PT) with extensive sarcomatous overgrowth was indicated as an integrative diagnosis. This is a rare case of a malignant PT harboring EGFRvIII. The present case provides an importance of accurate diagnosis and genomic analysis of rare breast tumors, as malignant PT and PBS are different in its treatment strategy and prognosis.

Malignant phyllodes tumor of the breast with heterologous osteosarcoma and chondrosarcomatous differentiation: A rare case report with imaging findings.

Phyllodes tumors of the breast are rare fibroepithelial neoplasms accounting for 0.3%-1.5% of all female breast tumors [1,2]. Malignant transformations occur in 10%-20% of phyllodes tumors, often in the form of stroma. Heterologous osteosarcoma and chondrosarcomatous differentiation of phyllodes tumor are extremely rare, and little is known about their imaging findings. Here, we report a rare case of a 52-year-old woman with no history of previous surgery or radiation therapy, who presented with a rapidly growing right breast mass that was diagnosed as a malignant phyllodes tumor with heterologous osteosarcoma and chondrosarcomatous differentiation. The patient underwent modified radical mastectomy.

Lymph Node and Distant Metastases in Phyllodes Tumor of the Breast.

A 54-year-old woman who incidentally noticed a "knot" in her left breast subsequently underwent excisional biopsy which yielded a diagnosis of malignant neoplasm with sarcomatous features. Given the broad differential diagnosis and imaging findings, the patient underwent bilateral mastectomy and intraoperative sentinel lymph node assessment. An 8.5 cm tumor that was further classified as a malignant phyllodes tumor was identified in the left breast, while the frozen section interpretation came back as positive for metastatic disease which resulted in left axillary lymphadenectomy. Two months later the patient progressed to distant metastatic disease and unfortunately passed away within 6 months after her initial diagnosis. Lymph node metastasis in phyllodes tumor is an exceptionally rare event for which patients usually do not undergo intraoperative sentinel lymph node examination; however high clinical suspicion of metastatic disease would be evidence for further investigation.