OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between pathological features and classification criteria of the breast Phyllodes tumor.

METHODS203 cases of breast phyllodes tumor diagnosed in 22 hospitals since 1956 were analyzed and reappraised by a retrospective study.

RESULTS133 cases were benign, 42 cases were borderline and 28 were malignant. The follow-up (6 to 372 months) showed that 28/133 benign, 19/42 borderline and 18/28 malignant cases recurred, and 17 patients (2 borderline and 15 malignant) died. The statistic cluster analysis demonstrated that stromal cellar atypia, margin involvement, mitotic activity and tumor necrosis were retained in the variable group, and no error distinguish were showed.

CONCLUSIONSThe breast phyllodes tumor can be classified as the following three types: benign, borderline and malignant. It is important to diagnose and classify the breast phyllodes tumor according to the involvement of tumor margin, stromal cellar atypia, mitotic activity, stromal overgrowth and tumor necrosis. There are significant differences of 5 years survival rates, recurrent rates and death rates between the benign, borderline and malignant breast phyllodes tumor. With wide excision the recurrence of the tumor decreased suggesting that broad excision is preferred for the benign phyllodes tumor and mastectomy is indicated for recurred borderline and malignant tumors.