Evolving Practice Patterns Over Two Decades (1993-2013) in the Management of Desmoid-type Fibromatosis in British Columbia

Effect of Tranilast on the Frequency of Invasive Treatment for Extra-Abdominal Desmoid Fibromatosis

BACKGROUND

Active surveillance (AS) has been suggested for managing extra-abdominal desmoid fibromatosis (EADF), but a substantial percentage of such patients transitioned to invasive secondary treatments. The anti-keloid medication tranilast is frequently used in Japan but its effectiveness for EADF is not well understood.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of EADF patients treated with tranilast between January 2009 and March 2021. EADF has been reported to shrink spontaneously, so the effects of all drugs must be compared with AS. To assess the effect of tranilast, we compared the clinical courses of patients receiving tranilast with those managed by AS (as identified in a systematic review). A systematic review of AS outcomes was conducted on July 22, 2021, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The primary endpoint was rate of conversion to secondary treatment. Secondary endpoints were progression-free survival, objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and adverse events. The rates of conversion to secondary treatment, ORRs, and DCRs were compared between the two groups by using the Fisher exact test.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients who received tranilast as initial treatment for EADF were included. Two patients (11.1%) underwent surgical resection for treatment of tumor growth and persistent pain. The rate of conversion to secondary treatment was significantly lower for tranilast than for a pure AS approach (40.1%; p = 0.01). ORR and DCR did not differ between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Tranilast was better than AS for initial management of EADF.

Desmoid-type fibromatosis: imaging features and course

Desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF) is a soft tissue tumor characterized by infiltrative growth and a tendency toward local recurrence, while it exhibits self-limiting behavior and shows spontaneous regression. With its unpredictable behavior, a change in treatment strategies from initial surgery to nonsurgical management has been proposed, and active surveillance is currently widely chosen as the initial treatment strategy for DF. We reviewed the imaging features of DF regarding its clinical course, focusing on regression cases, postoperative cases, and imaging changes after systemic treatment.

Low-Grade Fibromyxoid Sarcoma of the Back

A 29-year-old male presented with a seven-year history of a slow-growing, painless, firm, mobile mass in the right upper back that was bothersome when supine or with direct pressure. On initial presentation, a clinical diagnosis of lipoma was given. The mass progressively increased in size over several years but remained painless. The mass measured 15 x 10 cm on examination. Excision of the lesion was performed, which revealed a white cut surface with cystic degenerative changes. Histologically, the lesion revealed spindle cell morphology with occasional mitosis. Diffuse immunohistochemical staining with MUC4 supports a diagnosis of low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS). Tumor was present with focal extension into the deep margin. However, serial magnetic resonance imaging studies performed suggest no residual disease and negative regional lymph node involvement. This case demonstrates the growth pattern of LGFMS, but also denotes the importance of correlating radiological and pathological features to accurately diagnose and treat these tumors in a timely fashion.

Upfront surgery is not advantageous compared to more conservative treatments such as observation or medical treatment for patients with desmoid tumors

Background

This study compared the clinical and functional outcomes of patients initially treated with observation or medical treatment with those of patients treated with local treatment (surgery alone or surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy) to confirm whether observation or medical treatment is an appropriate first-line management approach for patients with desmoid tumors.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 99 patients with histologically confirmed primary desmoid tumors treated between 1978 and 2018. The median follow-up period was 57 months. We evaluated event-free survival, defined as the time interval from the date of initial diagnosis to the date of specific change in treatment strategy or recurrence or the last follow-up.

Results

An event (specific change in treatment strategy or recurrence) occurred in 28 patients (28.3%). No significant difference in event-free survival was found between the first-line observation/medical treatment and local treatment groups (p = 0.509). The median Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score of the patients treated with first-line local treatment was 29 (interquartile range [IQR], 23–30), whereas that of the patients managed with first-line observation or medical treatment was 21 (IQR, 19–29.5). First-line observation or medical treatment was more frequently chosen for larger tumors (p = 0.045). In the patients treated with local treatment, local recurrence was not related to the surgical margin (p = 0.976).

Conclusion

Upfront surgery is not advantageous compared to more conservative treatments such as observation or medical treatment for patients with desmoid tumors.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12891-020-03897-9.

[Long-term effectiveness of "West China Classification" guided surgical treatment of desmoid-type fibromatosis in shoulder girdle]

Objective

To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of patients received surgical treatment under the guidance of "West China Classification" of desmoid-type fibromatosis (DTF) in the shoulder girdle.

Methods

The clinical data of 32 patients with DTF in the shoulder girdle admitted between June 2003 and December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed, including 14 males and 18 females, aged 14-56 years with an average age of 36.8 years. The maximum diameter of the tumor was 7-19 cm, with an average of 11.1 cm. According to the "West China Classification" of DTF in the shoulder girdle, there were 4 cases of region Ⅰ, 3 cases of region Ⅱ, 6 cases of region Ⅲ, 3 cases of region Ⅳ, 5 cases of regions Ⅰ+Ⅱ, 5 cases of regions Ⅱ+Ⅲ, and 6 cases of regions Ⅰ+Ⅱ+Ⅲ. In addition, the involvement of blood vessels and nerves was also taken into consideration for choosing a surgical approach. Finally, 12 cases were operated via anteroposterior approach (group A), 14 via posterior approach (group B), and 6 via combined anterior-posterior approach (group C). The 1993 Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS93) score (including pain, limb function, satisfaction, hand position, hand flexibility, and lifting ability), Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, range of motion (ROM) of shoulder joint (including flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction), and complications of patients in the 3 groups were recorded and compared.

Results

All the 32 patients were followed up 30-190 months, with an average of 94.6 months. At last follow-up, complications occurred in 5 cases (15.6%), including 2 cases (16.6%) in group A, 2 (14.3%) in group B, and 1 (16.6%) in group C. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications among the 3 groups ( P=1.000). Tumor recurrence occurred in 5 (15.6%) cases, including 1 (8.3%) case in group A, 2 (14.3%) in group B, and 1 (16.6%) in group C. No significant difference was found in the recurrence rate among the 3 groups ( P=1.000). At last follow-up, MSTS93 score of pain, limb function, satisfaction, hand flexibility, and hand position in groups A and B were significantly better than those in group C ( P<0.05), even though no significant difference existed between group A and group B ( P>0.05). The lifting ability score in group C was significantly lower than in group A ( P<0.05), and no significant difference was found between other groups ( P>0.05). The JOA score and flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction activities of shoulder in groups A and B were significantly better than those in group C ( P<0.05). The extension activity in group A was significantly better than that in group B ( P<0.05), the flexion activity in group B was significantly better than that in group A ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in other indexes between groups A and B ( P>0.05).

Conclusion

Taking a rational approach to fully expose and completely remove the tumor is the key point of surgical treatment for patients with DTF in the shoulder girdle. At the same time, preservation of vital structures and reconstruction of soft tissues should also be taken into consideration. Overall, surgical treatment under the guidance of "West China Classification" of DTF in the shoulder girdle has achieved satisfactory long-term effectiveness.