title: Sporadic desmoid tumors of the abdominal wall: the results of surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Before the wait-and-see policy became the standard approach in abdominal wall desmoid tumors, surgery was performed on a systematic basis. Surgery remains indicated for progressing tumors but its extent is debatable. The abdominal wall is a common site of origin of sporadic desmoids, usually associated with a favorable prognosis. We analyzed the results of surgery at this specific site.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 33 patients affected by sporadic desmoid tumors of the abdominal wall (31 primary, 2 recurrent) consecutively treated at our cancer center between January 2000 and September 2013 were retrospectively studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine patients underwent surgery upfront and 1 after progression during the initial wait-and-see period. Prosthetic reconstruction of the abdominal wall was required in 28 patients. The average hospital stay was 5 days. Three patients developed surgical complications. Local recurrence-free survival was 90% at 5 and 10 years. Three patients had an uneventful childbirth during the follow-up after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Desmoid tumors of the abdominal wall have a favorable prognosis after surgical resection, which remains a safe and effective treatment. Wild-type tumors are common, whereas the incidence of S45F mutation in the beta-catenin gene is lower than in other anatomic sites. Upfront surgery may be considered in selected women who wish to bear a child.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Mussi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Piergiuseppe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lo Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Anaid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasangian
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cananzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marrari
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morenghi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Sanctis
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Quagliuolo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D018221:Fibromatosis, Abdominal / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden