Phyllodes tumor masquerading as a fungating breast mass

Phyllodes tumor of the breast is an uncommonly encountered disease. The tumor presenting as fungating breast mass or 'ruptured' breast is an even more rare presentation of an unusual disease. This report documents the case of a 60-year-old female with delayed presentation of a large exophytic mass of the left breast. Biopsy of this lesion was non-diagnostic, so excision via left total mastectomy was performed. The final pathology was consistent with malignant phyllodes tumor. This report highlights the features of a rare breast cancer, the challenges in obtaining a definitive diagnosis, and the treatment of this disease, in an effort to provide clinicians with an example of the management of such a peculiar entity.