title: Huge desmoid tumor of the anterior abdominal wall mimicking an intraabdominal mass in a postpartum woman: a case report.
abstract: Desmoid tumors are benign neoplasms that most often arise from muscle aponeurosis and have been associated with both trauma and pregnancy. The etiology of desmoids has not been determined. We report the case of anterior abdominal wall desmoid tumor in a female patient with previous history of cesarean section. Preoperative ultrasound and computed tomography demonstrated a large mass mimicking a large hematoma or an intraabdominal mass. The tumor was removed by wide excision with safe margins. The abdominal wall defect was reconstructed with polypropylene mesh. Subsequent histology revealed a desmoid tumor. Desmoid tumors in females are often associated with pregnancy or occur post-partum. The reasons behind this association are unclear. The most common sites are in the abdominal muscles.
authors.affiliation: Department of surgery, MTM Hospital, Nabeul, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Trigui
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouassida
authors.forename: Houda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kilani
authors.forename: Mohamed Mongi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mighri
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sassi
authors.forename: Fathi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chebbi
authors.forename: Hassen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Touinsi
authors.forename: Sadok
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sassi
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D034861:Abdominal Wall; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D018222:Desmoid Tumors / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Desmoid tumors; post partum; surgery