Natural Evolution of Phylloides Tumor of the Breast Due To Delay in Diagnosis and Treatment

Abstract

Phylloides tumors originate from the stroma of the mammary gland. The frequency is less than 1%, predominantly in women aging 35 and 55 years. They typically present as mobile, rounded nodules, usually painless, and may grow rapidly. The treatment of choice is local excision of the lesion, both for benign and malignant forms, with margins of at least 1 cm. We present the case of Phylloides tumor of the breast and its natural evolution due to delay in diagnosis and early treatment with a 42-year-old female patient. She was nulliparous, with no family history of breast cancer who came to consultation presenting a large tumor in the inner lower quadrant of her left breast. The tumor grew progressively until the mammary gland was deformed. A trucut biopsy was performed with a histopathological diagnosis of Phylloides tumor of low grade of malignancy. This patient underwent radical treatment by mastectomy. Cleaning mastectomy was performed, without postoperative complications, and the clinical evolution was satisfactory. All patients with progressive growth after the age of 30 should be studied immediately to determine histological characteristics of the tumor, and the appropriate treatment to prevent the evolution of the natural history of the disease.