Chest wall desmoid tumor with life-threatening intrathoracic extension

Multidisciplinary treatment of intra-thoracic desmoid tumors: case series and narrative review

Background

Primary intra-thoracic desmoids are exceedingly rare borderline tumors, with 34 reported cases in the English-language literature. The characteristic localized infiltrative growth and the high rate of recurrence can result in life-threatening conditions. Radical surgical resection is considered to be the primary treatment. Achieving negative surgical margins is a challenge. Cases with positive surgical margins are associated with a high rate of local recurrence; therefore, other multimodal approaches play a large role in their therapy.

Case Reports

The authors reviewed the relevant literature and presented examples of long-term follow-up of 3 intra-thoracic desmoid tumour patients, multidisciplinarily treated between 2000 and 2008. All reports of intra-thoracic desmoid tumors that the authors could find on PubMed or in the reference sections of these PubMed located articles were included using the search terms: intra-thoracic, desmoid, aggressive fibromatoses.

Conclusions

Because of the rarity of the disease and the heterogeneity of the cases, it is difficult to assess the importance of the information for everyday clinical practice. It does however provide a useful guide for reference.