Desmoid-type chest wall fibromatosis. A six cases series.
OBJECTIVE
Desmoid-type fibromatosis is a fibroblastic proliferation that develops in the deep soft tissues and is characterized by infiltrative growth and a tendency towards local recurrence but does not metastasize. Fibromatosis of the chest wall is rare, representing only 10 to 20% of all deep fibromatoses.


METHODS
We report a six cases series of fibromatosis of the chest wall treated at our institution between 1996 and 2009. There were five men and one woman with a mean age of 42.2. Swelling of the chest wall was the most frequent symptom. Imaging showed an expansive homogeneous mass, invading the rib (four cases) or the sternum (two cases). Surgical resection was performed in all cases. The outcome was favorable (five cases) or marked by local recurrence (one case).


CONCLUSIONS
Although it is considered to be a benign lesion, this tumor can be locally very aggressive, and has a high local recurrence rate depending upon the efficacy of surgical resection.
Anatomy and Pathologic Cytology Department, Abderrahman Mami Hospital, Ariana, Tunisia. alia.zehanikassar@yahoo.fr
A
A
Zehani-Kassar
A
A
Ayadi-Kaddour
A
A
Marghli
I
I
Ridene
H
H
Daghfous
T
T
Kilani
F
F
El Mezni
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D018222:Desmoid Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D035441:Thoracic Wall; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult