Abstract

Phyllodes tumor (PT) of the breast is a rare disease usually presents as a large lump. The aim of this study was to report low grade malignant (borderline) PT of the breast in Kermanshah, Iran. A 55-year-old lady was admitted to the surgery ward with left breast mass since 2-3 months ago. In past medical history, the patient had left breast surgery due to fibrocystic change seven years ago. Grossly her specimen consisted in a piece of gray soft tissue measuring 10*8*4.5 cm with lobulated appearance and small cystic areas. In permanent diagnosis, the pathologist reported low-grade malignant (borderline) PT. Microscopically the tumor was composed of benign glandular elements and hypercellular spindle-shaped stroma. Mitotic index was 3/10 high power field (HPF). The border was well-circumscribed with satellite lesion. In conclusion, the diagnosis of borderline phyllodes tumor cannot be made only on age, the size of tumor, imaging or clinical features. Microscopic evaluation with evaluation of stromal cellularity, atypia, mitotic counts and border of the tumor is necessary for definite diagnosis and categorizing of this tumor.

1. Introduction

Phyllodes tumors (PTs) have an incidence of 1 per 100,000 women and account for only 0.5% of all breast malignancies ¹. PT of the breast is a rare disease usually presents as a large lump. In few cases, it is bilateral or multifocal ^{2, 3}. These neoplasms generally present as unilateral painless, well-circumscribed, mobile breast masses in women 35 to 55 years old ⁴. PTs are classified according to their biological behavior to benign, malignant and borderline ⁵. Most PTs are benign (63–78%), with borderline PTs diagnosed in only 11–30% cases ⁶. They are more prevalent in the Latin American, White and Asian populations ⁷. The difficulty in distinguishing between PTs and benign fibroadenoma may lead to misdiagnosis. In fact, there are no characteristic features that clinically distinguish PTs from other breast cancers ⁸. The aim of this study was to report low grade malignant (borderline) PT of the breast in Kermanshah, Iran.

2. Case Report

A 55-year-old lady was admitted to the surgery ward on April 26^th, 2017 with left breast mass since 2-3 months ago. The mass was non-tender without discharge or nipple retraction, but with an increase in size according to the patient^'s report. In past medical history, the patient was menopause since eleven years ago and had left breast surgery due to fibrocystic change seven years ago. No significant drug or relevant family history was noted. On physical examination vital signs were stable. Large non-tender mass measuring 8*5 cm in pre areolar and upper part of the nipple and breast was present. The consistency was firm. Overlying skin showed mild telangiectasia. Axillary mass was not found.

Laboratory data revealed that CBC (complete blood count), PT, PTT, Blood Sugar, Urea, Cr, AST, ALT, Alkaline phosphatase, Albumin, Bilirubin, Na, K and Ca were normal. The patient underwent surgery on April 27^th, 2017. The specimen was sent to the pathology department for frozen section and then permanent diagnosis. Grossly the specimen was consisted in a piece of gray soft tissue measuring 10*8*4.5 cm with lobulated appearance and small cystic areas (Figure 1). Frozen section diagnosis was PT. In permanent diagnosis, the pathologist reported low-grade malignant (borderline) PT (Figure 2 and Figure 3). Microscopically the tumor was composed of benign glandular elements and hypercellular spindle-shaped stroma. Mitotic index was 3/10 high power field (HPF). The border was well-circumscribed with satellite lesion. Tumor greatest diameter was 10 cm. The patient was in good condition on May 7^th, 2017.

3. Discussion

This study reported a 55-year-old lady with low-grade malignant (borderline) PT of the left breast without axillary node involvement with a tumor size of 10 cm and mitotic index of 3/10HPF that the tumor was well circumscribed with cystic areas. This is the second case reported in Kermanshah, Iran. ¹ Malignant PT represents less than 1% of all breast malignancies and commonly has an indolent clinical course with a propensity for local recurrence ⁹. Abusalem et al. ¹⁰ reported that in their study, the mean age of patients with borderline PT was 42 years and higher than benign (37 years) and malignant (41 years) Ts. Also, PTs were more frequently situated in left breast than in the right side (58% vs. 42% respectively).

Axillary node involvement is rare. Another characteristic feature of these tumors is a high rate of local recurrences (5–20%) ¹¹. The median size of PTs is around 4 cm. Twenty percent of the tumors grow larger than 10 cm (giant PT). These tumors can reach sizes up to 40 cm in diameter ¹².

Surgery is the primary option for the treatment of malignant PT of the breast ¹³ that in one research for borderline and malignant PTs of the breast, a total mastectomy was superior to breast-conserving surgery in order to guarantee adequate safe margins ¹⁴.

Murthy et al. ¹⁵ reported a 25-year-old lactating mother presenting with a lump in the left breast that gross photograph of her specimen demonstrating a grayish-white well-circumscribed mass with solid and cystic areas. Microscopic findings include fibroepithelial proliferation in a classic leaf-like pattern. Borderline tumors have moderately cellular stroma, 5-9 mitotic figures per 10 HPF with mild-to-moderate atypia, whereas malignant tumors, exhibit marked cellularity, atypia, brisk mitotic activity (>10/10 HPFs), infiltrative borders, and stromal overgrowth ^{16, 17}. Another study showed that borderline tumors have 4-10 mitotic figures per 10 HPF ¹⁸, but Kim et al. ¹⁹ reported that borderline tumors had 2-5 mitoses per 10 HPF. Fou et al. suggested a 75% mortality in metastatic phyllodes with mitotic index >10 per HPF ²⁰. Mammography showed well-circumscribed oval or lobulated mass with rounded borders ²¹. Jorge Blanco et al. ²² reviewed the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings of 12 cases of PTs diagnosed in their hospital in the past 6 years, 6 of which were malignant. At ultrasound examination, all tumors were well-circumscribed and eight patients showed internal cystic areas. There is a controversy for considering a breast tumor with hypercellular stroma as borderline phyllodes tumor. In our case, the presence of satellite lesion and more than 2 mitoses per 10 HPF was considered as adequate criteria to put the tumor in borderline category.

4. Conclusions

Diagnosis of borderline phyllodes tumor cannot be made only on age, the tumor size, imaging or clinical features. Microscopic evaluation with an assessment of stromal cellularity, atypia, mitotic counts and border of the tumor is necessary for definite diagnosis and categorizing of this tumor.

References