Surgery for sporadic abdominal desmoid tumor: is low/no recurrence an achievable goal?
BACKGROUND
Sporadic abdominal desmoid tumors are rare and data on these tumors as a distinct disease entity are lacking. Previous abdominal surgery, trauma, pregnancy and estrogen intake are considered risk factors. Although desmoids are benign, invasion and a high recurrence rate are common.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate outcomes of surgery for this rare disease.


METHODS
Since 1995, 16 patients with pathologically confirmed desmoid tumor were operated on in our center. All familial adenomatous polyposis patients were excluded. A retrospective analysis of data was performed.


RESULTS
Of the 16 patients 12 (75%) were females. Mean age was 40.5 years (range 24-70). Thirteen patients were symptomatic and 3 were incidentally diagnosed. All patients presented with an isolated mass; 7 (50%) originated in the abdominal wall, 6 (37.5%) were retroperitoneal and 3 were (18.8%) mesenteric. All tumors except one were completely excised. Morbidity was low with no mortality. One patient was reoperated due to involved margins. None of the patients had recurrence within a median follow-up of 64 months (range 5-143).


CONCLUSIONS
The perception of sporadic abdominal desmoids as tumors with a high recurrence rate (20-70%) is probably incorrect. Adequate surgery with wide margins leads to a very low recurrence rate; cure is a legitimate goal.
Lahat
Guy
G
Department of Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. gslahat@gmail.com
Nachmany
Ido
I
Itzkowitz
Eran
E
Abu-Abeid
Subchi
S
Barazovsky
Eli
E
Merimsky
Offer
O
Klauzner
Joseph
J
D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D018222:Desmoid Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult