title: Nuchal aggressive fibromatosis in childhood: two instructive case reports.
abstract: Aggressive fibromatosis is a rare, benign tumour with a capacity for infiltration of surrounding structures and a propensity for local recurrence. The cornerstone of therapy is surgery, with various other treatment modalities having ill-defined roles. Assessment of the efficacy of these interventions is difficult. The natural history of the condition is variable and different treatment modalities are often used concurrently. Childhood cases pose particular management problems because of their tendency to occur in the head and neck region and the potential for treatment-related morbidity. Two children presented after surgery with recurrent disease threatening the airway. One remitted spontaneously and remains disease free at 20 years. The other achieved a complete remission with radiotherapy and toremifene. The role of non-surgical treatment, particularly radiotherapy, is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Chalmers
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gillham
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Plowman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018222:Desmoid Tumors / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D017312:Toremifene / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014103:Torticollis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D017312:Toremifene