request an appointment online.
Get details about our clinical trials that are currently enrolling patients.
View Clinical TrialsPhyllodes Tumors
Phyllodes tumors are a rare type of breast tumor. They range from benign to malignant, or cancerous.
What are phyllodes tumors?
Most breast tumors start in the lobules, which produce milk, or the ducts, which take milk to the nipples.
Phyllodes tumors are different. They form in the breast¡¯s connective tissue, called stromal tissue, and its epithelial tissue, which lines organs and forms glands.
Phyllodes tumors also behave differently. Most breast tumors spread into other breast tissue. Phyllodes tumors usually do not. Instead, they push and compress the tissue around them. This forms a distinct lump that often feels smaller and rounder than other breast tumors. They also tend to grow quickly, stretching the skin and causing skin changes over the tumor.
Phyllodes tumors are rare. Only two women out of every million will develop one in their lifetime. Only a few thousand are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
What are the types of phyllodes tumors?
There three main types of phyllodes tumors:
- Benign tumors: These are not cancer and do not spread to other parts of the body. Most phyllodes tumors are benign. They have an excellent prognosis.
- Malignant tumors: Malignant tumors are cancer. While other phyllodes tumors are smooth, these may feel like multiple masses in a clump. They usually grow very quickly and have a relatively high risk of recurring in the breast. They can also spread to other parts of the body. Because they are so aggressive, they often have a poor prognosis. Only about 10% of phyllodes tumors are malignant.
- Borderline tumors: These tumors have characteristics of both benign tumors and malignant tumors. They grow more quickly than benign tumors but almost never spread to other parts of the body. They often come back if they are not completely removed in surgery. They usually have an excellent prognosis.
While they form in the breast, phyllodes tumors should not be treated like standard breast cancers. Cancerous phyllodes tumors are sarcomas (cancers of connective tissue), which may need different treatments than standard breast cancer. At MD Anderson, phyllodes tumor patients are cared for in the Sarcoma and Orthopaedic Center.
Phyllodes Tumor Treatment at MD Anderson
Phyllodes tumors are a type of soft tissue sarcoma. They are treated in our Sarcoma and Orthopaedic Center.
Phyllodes tumor risk factors
A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of getting a particular disease. The risk factors for phyllodes tumors are:
- Age: Most phyllodes tumors are diagnosed in women in their 40s and 50s.
- Li-Fraumeni syndrome: Li-Fraumeni syndrome is a genetic condition that can be passed down from parent to child. People with this condition have an increased risk of developing several tumors and cancers, including phyllodes tumors. Learn more about Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
Phyllodes tumor symptoms
Symptoms of phyllodes tumors include:
- A firm, smooth lump in the breast that grows quickly, sometimes in a matter of weeks.
- Skin changes over the tumor. The skin can appear stretched, red or shiny.
- Swollen lymph nodes. While uncommon, this occurs when a cancerous phyllodes tumor starts to spread beyond its primary location.
Phyllodes tumor diagnosis
Getting an accurate diagnosis is key to phyllodes tumor care. Patients are often misdiagnosed diagnosed with a standard breast tumor or the wrong type of phyllodes tumor. These patients may not get the best treatment for them. MD Anderson has doctors who specialize in diagnosing sarcomas, including cancerous phyllodes tumors.
The following tests are used to diagnose phyllodes tumors or to track how the patient is responding to treatment:
Biopsy: A biopsy is the only way to definitively diagnose a phyllodes tumor. During a biopsy, a tissue sample is removed and examined under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells. Depending on tumor location, some biopsies can be done on an outpatient basis with only local anesthesia. Other times patients must undergo a surgical biopsy under general anesthesia.
Imaging exams: Imaging exams are used to look for cancer inside the body. They can help locate tumors and track how the body is responding to treatment. There are many types of imaging exams used to diagnose phyllodes tumors, including mammogram, breast ultrasound and a magnetic resonance imaging scan, or MRI.
Phyllodes tumor treatment
Phyllodes tumors should not be treated like standard breast cancers. The wrong treatment can allow the tumor to grow and spread. It can also make it harder to deliver the right treatments later. Patients should look for doctors who have experience treating phyllodes tumors.
Phyllodes tumors treatment plans
Benign and borderline phyllodes tumors usually are treated with surgery alone.
Malignant phyllodes tumors are usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and often radiation therapy for patients undergoing a lumpectomy.
Phyllodes tumor surgery
The two main surgeries for phyllodes tumors are lumpectomy and mastectomy. Care teams will recommend the best procedure based on several factors, such as the location and size of the tumor.
- Lumpectomy: In a typical lumpectomy surgery, the tumor and a small amount of surrounding normal tissue are removed. This procedure may be best for early-stage tumors that are still small. Lumpectomies are usually outpatient procedures and have shorter recovery times.
- Mastectomy: In a typical mastectomy surgery, the tumor and the entire breast are removed. There are several different types of mastectomies, including procedures that spare the breast¡¯s skin and nipple/areola. Patients usually stay in the hospital overnight after a mastectomy.
Breast reconstruction is an option for many women after a lumpectomy or mastectomy. In some cases, reconstruction can be performed in the same procedure. A plastic surgeon can participate in surgical planning to determine the best approach for each patient.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses powerful, focused beams of energy (usually X-rays) to kill cancer cells. There are many kinds of radiation therapy. Doctors can use these to accurately target a tumor while limiting damage to healthy tissue.
Radiation therapy can be used to treat malignant phyllodes tumors and some borderline tumors. The treatment can be given before surgery to fight the primary tumor. It can also be used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells near the tumor¡¯s location. This helps prevent the disease from returning.
Patients typically get radiation treatment five days a week for five to six weeks. Each radiation treatment session lasts about 30 minutes.
Side effects of radiation therapy include fatigue and skin irritation, such as itchy, dry or red skin.
Learn more about radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells, control their growth or relieve disease-related symptoms. Chemotherapy may involve a single drug or a combination of two or more drugs, depending on the type of cancer and how fast it is growing.
Malignant phyllodes tumor patients usually get chemotherapy through an IV. Chemotherapy is given in six cycles, each lasting three weeks. Patients start each cycle with for four or five straight days of chemotherapy. Each chemotherapy session lasts four to five hours. Patients have the rest of the cycle to recover.
Side effects of chemotherapy depend on the exact drug the patient gets. They can include hair loss, nausea, fatigue and infections.
Learn more about chemotherapy.
Phyllodes tumor survivorship care
Phyllodes tumors often return, or recur, after successful treatment. These recurrences can be in the breast or some in other part of the body.
In some cases, a tumor returns as a more serious type of phyllodes tumor. Benign tumors may become borderline or malignant, while borderline tumors may become malignant.
When initial treatment is complete, patients should undergo regular, enhanced screening, including chest CT scans. These tests can help catch a recurrent tumor early, when it is easiest to treat. Talk to your care team about the best plan for you.
Why choose MD Anderson for your phyllodes tumor care?
Because phyllodes tumors are rare, many hospitals see only one or two cases a year. As a top-ranked cancer center, MD Anderson sees dozens of phyllodes tumor patients a year. This experience allows MD Anderson to offer expert care for patients with phyllodes tumors.
MD Anderson pathologists have the expertise to recognize a phyllodes tumor and determine if it is benign, malignant or borderline. Doctors use this information to plan the most effective treatment possible. MD Anderson phyllodes tumor patients may receive care from a team that includes a surgeon, a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist. They work together to form treatment plans that are personalized to each patient¡¯s condition.
MD Anderson patients also have access to all the services and support offered by one of the nation¡¯s top-ranked comprehensive cancer centers. From counseling and support groups to integrative medicine and physical therapy, MD Anderson has all the support and wellness services needed to treat the whole person ¨C not just the disease.
Clinical Trials
Becoming Our Patient
Get information on patient appointments, insurance and billing, and directions to and around?MD Anderson.
Help #EndCancer
Give Now
Donate Blood
Our patients depend on blood and platelet donations.
Shop MD Anderson
Show your support for our mission through branded merchandise.?