OBJECTIVETo explore the methods of diagnosis, treatment and prognosis for patients with recurrent breast phyllodes tumor.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 26 patients with pathologically proven recurrent phyllodes tumors treated from March 1972 to June 2006 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe mean age of the 26 cases was 45 years, and the median follow-up duration was 83 months. The mean overall survival time of this series was 96 months. The primary breast phyllodes tumor was > or = 5 cm in 10 cases with a recurrence rate of 60.0% (6/10 cases); < 5 cm in 16 cases with a recurrence rate of 31.3% 5/16 cases). After surgical removal of the breast primary tumor, the recurrent tumor was > or = 5 cm in 14 cases with a re-recurrence rate of 35.7% (5/14 cases); < 5 cm was in 12 cases with are-recurrence rate of 50.0% (6/12 cases). There was no statistically significant relationship between the (primary and reccurent) tumor size and recurrence rate (P = 0.094, P = 0.383) or prognosis (P = 0.142, P = 0.486). The benign or malignant nature of the breast phyllodes tumor was significantly correlated with the rate of local re-recurrence (P = 0.046) and prognosis (P = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONThe benign or malignant nature of the breast phyllodes tumor is significantly correlated with the local re-recurrence and prognosis, while the size of the primary breast phyllodes tumor has no significant effect on either re-recrruence or prognosis. The first rescue operation is most important in the treatment of recurrent breast phyllodes tumor. The resection margin should be wide enough. Active surgical treatment can still effectively save the life of the patients with a local re-recurrent tumor.