Found during a woman’s routine physical examination or her self-examination of the breast, phyllodes tumors, which are rare solid lumps, usually present as a mass. A benign lump known as fibroadenoma–like tumors, phyllodes tumors are typically painless and well circumscribed.
Phyllodes Tumor Diagnosis:
It is through mammogram that the smaller masses may be detected. When a solid lump is found through imaging evaluation including an ultrasound and a mammogram, a biopsy is crucial to acquire tissue for precise diagnosis as your doctor may not be able to precisely tell whether the solid lump in your breast is a phyllodes tumor or a benign fibroadenoma.
Phyllodes Tumor Risk Factors:
They include:
- Size greater than 2 centimeters
Phyllodes Tumor Treatment:
Most of the times, doctors recommend complete surgical removal of this mass to ensure that it is not an underlying phyllodes tumor. Phyllodes tumors are not all cancerous. Many will not require further evaluation and be classified as benign. To differentiate between a benign phyllodes tumor and one with more aggressive malignant potential an experienced pathologist is required to be visited.
In any event, at regular intervals, physical examination and close surveillance with follow-up mammogram is a requirement that needs to be met for women who undergo surgery for phyllodes tumor removal.
A wide excision of normal breast tissue around the tumor to obtain clean margins is the way malignant phyllodes tumors are best managed. Radiation therapy is not required in many cases. Complete removal of the breast may be needed for very large malignant phyllodes tumors. |
