Full-thickness chest-wall resection followed by thorax reconstruction for recurrent malignant phyllodes tumor.

We present a case of a 39-year-old woman with a giant recurrent malignant phyllodes tumor accompanied with bleeding and infection. She underwent full-thickness chest-wall resection. Bony thorax reconstruction and stabilization was accomplished using a Composix mesh™, and soft tissue reconstruction was performed with a musculocutaneous flap of latissimus dorsi muscle. The patient had a good postoperative outcome, and the surgical treatment remarkably improved her quality of life. Because chemotherapy and radiation are not established for treating malignant phyllodes tumors, an aggressive surgical approach should be considered for patients with a locally advanced malignant phyllodes tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]