Giant Malignant Mammary Phyllodes Tumor: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

Abstract

To distinguish between a benign and malignantphyllodes tumor before surgery is difficult. Wide excisionor mastectomy with adequate free margins is necessaryin the case of a malignant phyllodes tumor. However,repairing the skin defect after removal of a giantmalignant phyllodes tumor is a great challenge for thebreast surgeon. Case Report: We report the case of a45-year-old Taiwanese woman with a giant malignantphyllodes tumor measuring 30 × 25 × 22 cm. Prior tosurgery, we carefully designed a flap to cover the skindefect, following standard mastectomy with at least2 cm free margins. Postoperatively, the patient recoveredwell without any wound infection or flap necrosis. Duringfollow-up at our outpatient department, there was noevidence of local relapse or distant metastasis. Conclusion:Giant malignant phyllodes tumors can be treatedby total mastectomy with adequate free margins, using aflap technique to cover the skin defect.