Diagnostic approach to fibroepithelial tumors of the breast

Abstract

Fibroepithelial tumors of the breast are a heterogeneous group of mixed lesions with an epithelial and a stromal component. The diagnostic spectrum ranges from the benign variant of fibroadenoma to the phyllodes tumor in its benign, borderline, and malignant forms. These lesions are sometimes difficult to diagnose, especially distinguishing between a cellular fibroadenoma and a benign phyllodes tumor. In both phyllodes tumor and fibroadenoma, the differential diagnosis with other breast lesions, benign and malignant, must be established. The treatment surgery and the prognosis, in the case of phyllodes tumors, will depend on their pathological characteristics.