Background: Phyllodes tumours are rare neoplasms of the female breast. Tumours range from the benign to the highly malignant. Based on histological growth pattern, number of mitoses, pleomorphism and stroma characteristics, tumours are classified as malignant, borderline, or benign. After surgical treatment of malignant phyllodes tumours, ten-year survival of 42% is reported. Metastatic tumours have a poor prognosis with no long-term survival.
Material and methods: We present the case history of a 59-year-old woman with a pulmonary metastasis from a malignant phyllodes tumour of the breast.
Results: The patient presented with a rapidly growing tumour of the right lung. Because of suspected malignancy, bilobectomy of the right lung was performed. Microscopic examination of the resected specimen showed a metastasis from a malignant sarcomatous tumour. Review of the specimen from a mastectomy 14 months earlier, for what was then considered a benign phyllodes tumour, confirmed a diagnosis of a primary malignant phyllodes tumour with pulmonary metastases.
Interpretation: Diagnosis and treatment of phyllodes tumours require close cooperation between the radiologist, the pathologist and the clinician.