title: Desmoid tumor of the abdominal wall: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Desmoid 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, General Hospital "Agios Pavlos," Ethn, Antistaseos 161, 55134 Thessaloniki, Greece. xanthipitta@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.forename: Xanthi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pitta
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andreadis
authors.forename: Leonidas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Papapavlou
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chrissidis