Desmoplastic fibroma arising in the distal phalanx of the great toe: a case report

Desmoid Tumors of the Foot: A Retrospective Study of Four Patients

BACKGROUND

Desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF) is an aggressive (myo)fibroblastic neoplasm with an infiltrative growth pattern and a tendency for local recurrence. It is rarely seen at the foot. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze clinical presentation, therapy, and outcomes in a consecutive series of four patients with DF at the foot.

METHODS

From 1994 to 2014, four patients had been surgically treated. The resection margin was marginal or even intralesional in all. One patient already had local recurrence at first presentation. The end point was either local recurrence or progression of residual disease.

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 27 years. In one patient, marginal excision healed the disease. In another patient, local recurrence after marginal resection necessitated distal phalanx amputation. Two other patients showed stable disease after either adjuvant radiotherapy or treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and tamoxifen.

CONCLUSIONS

If surgery is necessary, operative margins are less important than keeping function for the patient. Radiotherapy might be an option to avoid major amputation. The role of adjuvant radiotherapy is controversially discussed. A watchful wait-and-see policy seems to be justified by the published data but may be difficult for DF at the foot.

Periosteal desmoplastic fibroma of the tibia in a 3-year-old child

Desmoplastic fibroma is a rare benign fibrogenic, locally aggressive, primary bone tumor. It is the intraosseous counterpart of soft tissue aggressive fibromatosis. The lesion may very rarely appear as a superficial bone lesion arising from the periosteum; in such cases, a soft tissue mass with changes in the adjacent bone is evident. Periosteal lesions are very rare in the literature; diagnosis is usually based on the radiographic findings, and histological proof of the tumor origin is missing. A periosteal desmoplastic fibroma of the distal tibial metaphysis in a 3-year-old boy is presented. Radiographic investigation included plain radiographs and computed tomography imaging. Both demonstrated a soft tissue lesion involving the superficial bone tissues with non-aggressive looking borders and a pressure effect with a sclerotic rim in the bone. The lesion was excised, and the surgical as well as the histological findings indicated the diagnosis of a desmoplastic fibroma of bone arising from the periosteum. No recurrence was detected 5 years after surgery.

Extended curettage and heat ablation for desmoplastic fibroma of the distal femur with a 12-year follow-up period: A case report

Desmoplastic fibroma is a particularly rare, benign but locally aggressive, primary bone tumor. Owing to previously published reports stating high recurrence rates following curettage, the recommended primary treatment for desmoplastic fibroma is a marginal to wide tumor resection. In the current report, the case of an athlete with desmoplastic fibroma of the distal femur who was treated with extended curettage, heat ablation and artificial bone grafting is described. The postoperative course was uneventful and no recurrence has been observed during the 12-year follow-up period. The patient is able to sit on his heels with a straight back, without pain and is able run a complete marathon.