Cystosarcoma phyllodes: the Western Australian experience.
BACKGROUND
Cystosarcoma phyllodes is a rare breast tumour whose behaviour is not well understood by many clinicians.


METHODS
In 1998 a retrospective study was undertaken of women diagnosed with phyllodes tumour of the breast who had their initial surgery between 1983 and 1994 in Western Australian public hospitals.


RESULTS
Forty women were diagnosed and treated over this period; however, only 28 received ongoing follow-up (70%). Follow-up was obtained on 26 of these. The median age at diagnosis in this group was 46 years. Cases were predominantly Caucasian (85.5%). Postmenopausal women were affected in 26.9% of cases. Four patients had recurrences after surgery (one malignant and three benign). No patient had a recurrence with primary tumours with a diameter of < or = 2 cm. Mean time to recurrence was 35.8 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Breast-conserving surgery was used in almost all cases (96.2% of first operations).
Holthouse
D J
DJ
Cancer Services Clinical Care Unit, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia. holthouse@hotmail.com
Smith
P A
PA
Naunton-Morgan
R
R
Minchin
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D003557:Phyllodes Tumor / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology