Desmoid tumor of the abdominal wall: a case report

Athanasios Economou,Xanthi Pitta,Thomas Chrissidis,Leonidas Papapavlou,Efstathios Andreadis

doi:10.1186/1752-1947-5-326

Athanasios Economou, Xanthi Pitta + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-5-326

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Abstract

IntroductionDesmoid tumors are rare lesions without any metastatic potential but a strong tendency to invade locally and to recur. These tumors are associated with women of fertile age, especially during and after pregnancy.Case presentationThe case of a desmoid tumor of the anterior abdominal wall in a 40-year-old Caucasian man with no relevant family history is presented, describing its appearance on computed tomography and ultrasonography. The patient, who presented with a painless mass in the left anterolateral abdomen, had a history of previous urgent abdominal surgery after a shotgun injury two years earlier. Radical resection of the affected abdominal wall musculature was performed, and the defect was reconstructed with polypropylene mesh.ConclusionThe diagnosis of desmoid tumor should be strongly considered even in male patients with an abdominal mass and a history of previous abdominal surgery. The goal of its treatment is complete tumor excision and avoidance of the development of complications such as hernia.

Highlights

Desmoid tumors are rare lesions without any metastatic potential but a strong tendency to invade locally and to recur
We present the case of this rare medical entity in a 40-year-old man with history of abdominal surgery and describe its appearance on computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography
Case presentation A 40-year-old Caucasian man presented to the emergency department with a painless mass in the left anterolateral abdomen

Summary

Conclusion

The combination of features, such as the history of previous surgery, the age and sex of the patient, the location of the mass within the anterior abdominal wall and the imaging features, make desmoid tumor a strong primary diagnostic consideration even if it is a rare entity and especially in men. 2. Arshad AR, Normala B: Surgical management of large desmoid tumour of the anterior abdominal wall. 4. Kumar V, Khanna S, Khanna AK, Khanna R: Desmoid tumors: experience of 32 cases and review of the literature. 5. Overhaus M, Decker P, Fischer HP, Textor HJ, Hirner A: Desmoid tumors of the abdominal wall: a case report. 6. Lahat G, Nachmany I, Itzkowitz E, Abu-Abeid S, Barazovsky E, Merimsky O, et al: Surgery for sporadic abdominal desmoid tumor: is low/no recurrence an achievable goal?

Introduction

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Waddell WR