Features of a leaf-shaped tumor of the breast

The oncological process in the mammary gland ranks first among oncopathologies that are found in women. Among all the various oncological processes in the mammary gland, a separate type is distinguished - a leaf-shaped tumor of the mammary gland. This is a fibro-epithelial formation, which belongs to the malignant and dangerous forms of breast cancer.

Leaf-shaped breast tumor. Features of the process flow

Leaf-shaped breast tumor is also called leaf-shaped fibroadenoma, giant myxomatous fibroadenoma, phyllodes fibroadenoma. The tumor is characterized by proliferation of connective tissue and epithelial components. The connective tissue component predominates.

This breast tumor is a formation that is prone to intensive growth, frequent relapses and degeneration into sarcoma. Leaf tumor is difficult to diagnose.

There are 3 forms of the course of a leaf-shaped breast tumor - benign, borderline, that is, intermediate, and malignant.

Characteristics and causes of the development of a leaf-shaped tumor of the breast

The appearance of the breast during this process depends on the size of the tumor. If a breast tumor is less than 5 cm in diameter, then it is a solid formation that is delimited from surrounding tissues. The skin color is pale pink or gray-white, the formation has a lobed or coarse-grained structure.

On the cut, there are cavities in the form of slits with small cysts that contain a mucus-like mass. If the tumor reaches a size of more than 5 cm, it takes the form of cystic cavities with gaps that contain a gelatinous secretion and polypoid growths in the cyst cavities.

Histological examination can reveal a clear difference from breast fibroma. Leaf-shaped breast tumor has a more pronounced stroma, which has proliferation of stromal cells and a clear nuclear polymorphism.

Since such breast tumors are more common in women aged 40 to 50 years, its appearance is associated with hyperestrogenism and a lack of progesterone in the hormonal background.

The provoking factors are fibro-cystic mastopathy, pregnancy, lactation and abortion. Also, the tumor can develop against the background of such endocrine disorders as adrenal tumors, diabetes mellitus, thyroid nodules, obesity and disorders in the pituitary gland.

Clinical manifestations of leaf-shaped breast tumor

Leaf-shaped tumor of the breast is characterized by a two-phase course. Often, after a long period of slow tumor growth, sudden rapid tumor growth begins. At the same time, the average size of the tumor reaches a diameter of 9 cm. Cases of a tumor measuring 45 cm, which weighed 6.8 kg, are described.

The size of the tumor is not related to the degree of malignancy. A small tumor may be malignant, and a large one may be benign.

Leaf-shaped tumor of the mammary gland is more often located in the central and upper quadrants of the mammary gland, with large sizes it can occupy the entire breast.

A leaf-shaped tumor of the breast is usually detected by the patient when a dense knot is felt in the chest. If the tumor is large, the skin over it becomes thinner and acquires a bluish-purple hue. Through such thin skin, dilated saphenous veins are visible. Breast pain, skin ulceration, and nipple discharge may be present.

Diagnostics and treatment of the mammary gland in case of detection of a leaf-shaped tumor

If a breast tumor is suspected, an ultrasound is performed. Ultrasound reveals a hypoechoic formation, which on the cut looks like a “cabbage head”, the formations have a heterogeneous structure with multiple cavities that are filled with liquid. Doppler sonography visualizes a network of various sized veins.

Mammography reveals a round-shaped conglomerate that has clear edges and a lobular structure.

Before treatment of the mammary gland, preoperative differentiation is carried out in order to determine the nature of the process. To do this, a puncture biopsy is performed followed by a cytological examination.

The treatment of the mammary gland in the presence of a leaf-shaped tumor is indicated only by surgery due to the rapid growth and high probability of malignancy of the process. Hormone therapy and radiation therapy are not indicated.

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