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The Hidden Giant of Breast Tumors: Do You Know What Phyllodes Tumor Is?
Some tumors may not cause alarm in their early stages of growth, but over time they can become a significant threat to your health. This is the case with Phyllodes tumors, a form of tumor that arises from the breast's supportive tissue, fibroblasts, and is often overlooked but potentially dangerous. This article will explore in depth the characteristics, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of Phyllodes tumors to help readers better understand this hidden health problem.
Phyllodes Tumors Introduction
Phyllodes tumor, derived from the Greek word "phullon," meaning "leaf," is a rare biphasic fibroepithelial mass that accounts for less than 1% of breast tumors. This type of tumor was first named cystic sarcoma in 1838 and renamed Phyllodes tumor by the World Health Organization in 2003. Their morphological characteristics can be seen in the histology of the unique leaf-like processes, which is closely related to its name.
Signs and symptoms
Phyllodes tumors are usually painless, firm, movable masses that may cause deformation of breast tissue. Larger masses may lead to inverted nipples or fixation to the chest wall, or even ulcers in severe cases. These tumors range widely in size, from 0.8 cm to 40 cm, with the majority of tumors being approximately 4 to 8 cm. Another characteristic of tumors is that they sometimes grow slowly and sometimes very rapidly.
Causes and mechanisms
There is no clear conclusion on the specific cause of Phyllodes tumor. Studies have shown that patients with Li-Fraumeni syndrome and BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations are at increased risk of developing Phyllodes tumors. In addition, a history of gynecomastia in men also increases the incidence. Regarding the pathogenesis, studies have shown that gene mutations and receptors of hormones and certain growth factors may be related to tumor formation.
Diagnosis
Diagnostic techniques
Imaging examination is an important means of diagnosing Phyllodes tumors, but about 20% of tumors cannot be detected during mammographic screening. Other imaging techniques such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help assess the size and spread of the tumor. However, these techniques cannot differentiate between Phyllodes tumors and benign fibroadenomas, and the only definitive diagnosis remains histologic examination.
Categories
The classification of Phyllodes tumors depends on their histologic features, including stromal cellularity, and proliferative activity. Phyllodes tumors can be classified as benign, borderline, or malignant based on their histology, and most have malignant potential.
Treatment Options
Currently, the mainstay of treatment for Phyllodes tumors is extensive surgical resection with margins greater than 1 cm. Although surgery is the main and effective treatment, chemotherapy and radiotherapy have not shown significant efficacy for this tumor. Additionally, follow-up is often necessary to assess for possible recurrence.
Prognosis
The overall prognosis of Phyllodes tumors is relatively good, with 87% of patients surviving ten years after effective surgical resection. It should be noted that if the tumor metastasizes, the prognosis will be relatively poor.
EpidemiologyPhyllodes tumors account for approximately 1% of all breast tumors. This tumor mainly occurs in adult women, especially in the age group of 40 to 50 years old.
When faced with this rare tumor, how can we be more vigilant and carry out early screening and timely treatment?
