Dr. Previn Gulavita
Resident PGY4
Case Three
Overview
Clinical history: 48 year old female with suspscious density on mammography.
What is the most probable diagnosis?
Diagnosis
Phyllodes Tumour
Discussion:
The tumours vary in size from a few centimeters to massive lesions involving the entire breast. The larger lesions often have bulbous protrusions (phyllodes is Greek for "leaflike") due to the presence
of nodules of proliferating stroma covered by epithelium. In some tumours these protrusions extend into a cystic space. This growth pattern can also occasionally be seen in larger fibroadenomas and
is not an indication of malignancy. Phyllodes tumours are distinguished from the more common fibroadenomas on the basis of cellularity, mitotic rate, nuclear pleomorphism, stromal overgrowth, and
infiltrative borders. Low-grade lesions resemble fibroadenomas but are more cellular and contain mitotic figures. High-grade lesions may be difficult to distinguish from other soft tissue sarcomas
and may have foci of mesenchymal differentiation (eg. Rhabodomyosarcoma or liposarcoma). The frequency of chromosomal changes increases with grade and the majority of high-grade lesions are reported
to have amplification of EGFR. Recurrent phyllodes tumours are often of a higher grade than the presenting lesion.