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Phyllodes cystosarcoma is a rare breast cancer that arises from breast tissue cells and can grow into surrounding structures and distant parts of the body. Diagnosis is based on biopsy and treatment focuses on surgical removal. Prognosis depends on whether the tumor is benign or malignant. Risk factors are poorly understood.
A rare breast cancer most commonly seen in middle-aged women, a phyllodes cystosarcoma is a growth that arises from the cells that make up breast tissue. Although most often these tumors are benign, they sometimes have the ability to grow into surrounding structures and distant parts of the body. Diagnosis of the tumor is based on taking a sample from the lump, and treatment focuses on removing the abnormal breast tissue.
A cystosarcoma phyllodes tumor is thought to form in the stromal cells of the breast. These cells make up breast tissue and can grow and divide in response to high levels of hormones in the blood, such as estrogen or progesterone. For unknown reasons, in rare cases these stromal cells can begin to multiply in an unregulated way and can even invade surrounding structures or spread to distant body regions. This unregulated growth of stromal cells causes the development of the phyllodes cystosarcoma tumor.
The risk factors for developing a phyllodes cystosarcoma tumor are poorly understood. Tumors typically appear in women in their 40s. Often, women who develop cancer later in life have a disease that is more difficult to treat. A rare genetic condition known as Li-Fraumeni syndrome is known to cause this type of cancer.
Definitive diagnosis of a phyllodes cystosarcoma tumor is based on biopsy of the mass and inspection under a microscope. The cancer itself might be detected by breast self-examination, clinical breast examination by a licensed physician, or mammography, an x-ray procedure used to look for abnormalities in breast tissue. After a mass has been identified, it may be biopsied by removing a small section of the tumor, or it may be removed completely immediately.
Treatment of a cystosarcoma phyllodes tumor focuses on its surgical removal. Breast surgery specialists carefully remove the tumor, making sure to remove all abnormal tumor tissue. The excised tissue is typically sent to a pathologist who can review the margins to ensure that the entire tumor has been removed.
The prognosis of a patient suffering from a cystosarcoma phyllodes tumor depends on a number of factors. Many of these tumors are benign, which means they do not naturally infiltrate surrounding structures or spread to distant parts of the body. The prognosis in these patients is generally good, although they should be monitored for future recurrence of the disease. If the tumor is malignant, meaning it has a propensity to spread to different regions, it is more difficult to get a cure from the disease. These patients may require chemotherapy or radiation therapy to more completely eradicate the tumor.
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