The Defect Repair After a Giant Malignant Phyllodes Tumor Resection of Breast Using a Kiss Flap

Abstract

Malignant phyllodes tumors of the breast are fairly rare and fast-growing tumors. They are not sensitive to chemotherapy or hormonal therapy. Therefore, the primary treatment for malignant phyllodes tumors is wide surgical excision. Herein, we report a case study which featured a 26-year-old woman presented with a giant malignant phyllodes tumor measuring 20 × 17 × 13 cm. In order to reduce the chance of local recurrence, treatment for these types of tumors usually involves extensive excision with at least 1 cm of surgical margins. The patient underwent mastectomy with negative surgical margins, which left a large skin defect of 25 × 15 cm. Repair of such a large skin defect is a challenge to breast surgeons. This is the first reported case in which a “kiss” flap was successfully used to repair the skin defect created after resection of a giant malignant phyllodes tumor. The kiss flap could be considered as an effective and simple method to repair large chest wall defects after resection of giant phyllodes tumors.