title: Clinical and imaging observations of desmoid tumors left without treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Until now, surgical treatment has been the mainstay in the treatment of desmoid tumors, even though it is associated with a high recurrence rate. There have, however, been occasional case reports showing that desmoid tumors may spontaneously decrease in size or even disappear.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective review of 8 patients with abdominal (5) or extra-abdominal (3) desmoid tumors who were followed both clinically and with imaging techniques (sonography, CT or MRI). Mean follow-up time was 4.4 (0.8-7.5) years. Tumor volume was assessed in each investigation and followed over time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  3 tumors disappeared, 2 diminished in size, 1 did not change and 2 tumors became larger, 1 of which had tripled in volume at the latest follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Desmoid tumors have probably been overtreated in the past. Many of them tend to regress spontaneously.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. mikael.dalen@vgregion.se
authors.forename: B P Mikael
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Dalén
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geijer
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kvist
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bergh
authors.forename: Björn U P
authors.initials: BU
authors.lastname: Gunterberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D018221:Fibromatosis, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018222:Desmoid Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*