A phyllodes cytosarcoma or phyllodes tumor is a rare form of tumor that occurs in the breast, or even more rarely in the prostate gland. Most often, the phyllodes tumor is associated with breast cancer, although many of these tumors are not cancers. They may be benign, but they have a rapid growth rate, meaning that if ignored, they can grow large enough to require a mastectomy removal.
Phyllodes tumors tend to invade the connective tissue of the breast, but they do not usually appear in the ducts of the breast. They are more likely to develop in women who have not yet reached menopause, with the majority of phyllodes tumors seen in women between the ages of 40-50. A much younger woman can have one of these tumors, and cases have occurred in adolescents, although this is rarer. What is often most evident about these tumors is that they can change in size rapidly, and it is not uncommon for the growth to be noticeable and for these tumors to become very large in a matter of weeks or months.
There is different information on whether a phyllodes tumor is likely to be cancerous. Some sources such as the Merck Manual cite that approximately 50% of these tumors are malignant. Other equally reputable sources claim that around 80% are benign. It appears that there is a high rate of benign phyllodes tumors, and that the higher estimate of noncancerous forms may be more accurate.
If a phyllodes tumor is suspected, women will generally need to undergo an open surgical needle or biopsy. This helps to evaluate the tumor for possible malignancy, and it can then be considered benign, borderline, or malignant. This rating determines the treatment. Cancerous (malignant) and borderline tumors may mean undergoing chemotherapy or radiation after mastectomy. Benign tumors still need to be removed. If the benign tumor is caught early, removal can be done in the form of a lumpectomy, but if the tumor is malignant or borderline, lumpectomies tend not to be preferable. About 20% of women will have a recurrence of the Phyllodes tumor.
These tumors are exceptionally rare, accounting for only 1% of all breast cancer cases. They are even rarer when they occur in the prostate gland and, like the breast type, they can be malignant or benign. Unfortunately, the phyllodes tumor of the prostate can become even larger than those of the breasts before they are noticed, as this is not an area of the body that men can check for themselves for evidence of tumors or tumors. As with treatment when such tumors occur in the breast, it is recommended that those that occur in the prostate be removed immediately and their possible malignancy controlled.