A case of primary mesenteric fibromatosis

An Unusual Presentation of Desmoid Tumor in the Ileum

Desmoid tumors are nonencapsulated, locally invasive tumors of fibrous origin. Although lacking the ability to metastasize, they are notorious for recurrence. A wide variety of locations have been documented in the literature with respect to the origin of these tumors. Intra-abdominal desmoids are commonly found in the mesentery. We present the report of a case in which a sporadic desmoid tumor originated from the wall of the ileum. The patient was successfully treated with surgery alone, and has remained recurrence free on follow-up. Modalities of treatment documented in the literature include surgery, nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs such as sulindac, and chemotherapeutic drugs such as vinblastine and methotrexate, radiotherapy, and, recently, tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as Imatinib (gleevec). Of all the options described, surgery with tumor-free margins has been defined as the best treatment modality.

Giant Mesenteric Fibromatosis Presenting as Small Bowel Obstruction

Mesenteric fibromatosis is a proliferative fibroblastic neoplasia of the small intestine mesentery that may occur as a unique or multiple formation. Mesenteric fibromatosis is a rare, locally aggressive neoplasm and may present with abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, weight loss, or symptoms of ureteral obstruction, mesenteric ischemia, or intestinal obstruction. It is of the utmost importance to distinguish mesenteric fibromatosis from gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Histopathology accurately differentiates between these two distinct entities. The preferred treatment is local surgical excision with a margin of uninvolved tissue. The involvement of important structures like the superior mesenteric artery and the superior mesenteric vein may pose a challenge during resection, but these tumors can be excised and the vessels repaired primarily.

Mesenteric fibromatosis in a young girl without familial adenomatous polyposis

Mesenteric fibromatosis (MF) is a rare, benign tumor commonly associated with Gardner's syndrome. The signs and symptoms in patients with MF are insidious. Patients may present with abdominal pain or discomfort when the tumors reach large sizes, which is typical at the time of diagnosis. Differentiating MF from other neoplasms such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors may present a diagnostic dilemma, especially in patients without any history of familial adenomatous polyposis. In the present report, we discuss a young girl who presented with MF. A pertinent review of the literature is also presented. This case is peculiar in that MF presented at a young age in a patient without history of familial adenomatous polyposis and occurred in the omentum with local invasion to the stomach.

Intra-abdominal spindle cell lesions: a review and practical aids to diagnosis

Intra-abdominal spindle cell lesions are uncommon and often present a diagnostic challenge. An important group of such lesions are the gastrointestinal stromal tumours. Other intra-abdominal spindle cell lesions include fibromatosis, various sarcomas-in particular, leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour-and, in women, endometrial stromal sarcoma. Less common lesions are inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours, the mesenteric spindle cell reactive lesions, retroperitoneal fibrosis, and solitary fibrous tumour. A variety of intra-abdominal tumours of nonmesenchymal origin may have a spindle cell/sarcomatoid morphology; these include sarcomatoid carcinoma, malignant melanoma and, in women, sarcomatoid granulosa cell tumour. Finally, metastatic sarcomas from pelvic or extra-abdominal organs need also be considered. A set of practical aids to the diagnosis of intra-abdominal spindle cell lesions is presented to assist pathologists dealing with such lesions, particularly with regards to the consideration of differential diagnoses.

Mesenteric fibromatosis: case report and literature review

Mesenteric fibromatosis is a rare, benign fibrous lesion found in the bowel mesentery or the retroperitoneum. Its biological behavior is intermediate between benign fibrous tissue proliferation and fibrosarcoma. Fibromatosis characteristically is locally invasive and tends to recur but does not metastasize. Most reported cases have been in older individuals, and there is a frequent association with familial polyposis coli, previous trauma, and hormonal imbalance. The authors report a case of mesenteric fibromatosis in a 32-month-old girl with a 1-month history of abdominal pain who was discovered to have an abdominal mass. After appropriate investigations, the mass was excised. The pathology report confirmed the diagnosis of fibromatosis. Mesenteric fibromatosis in children, as in adults, presents a management challenge for the surgeon.

Mesenteric mass in a 28-year-old woman

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A desmoid tumor of the pancreas. Sporadic intra-abdominal desmoids revisited

CONCLUSIONS

Desmoid tumors may rarely develop at the site of an unrelated surgical procedure. This is an index description of a desmoid tumor occurring at the line of a pancreatic resection. Because sporadic intra-abdominal desmoids are markedly less prone to recurrence than genetically determined desmoids, it is reasonable to suggest re-resection for the infrequent recurrence in sporadic cases.

BACKGROUND

Intra-abdominal desmoid tumors are infrequently encountered in surgical practice and, when seen, are most often those genetically determined tumors associated with Gardner's Syndrome or familial polyposis. In contrast, fewer than 100 cases of sporadic intra-abdominal desmoid tumors have been reported; only 16 of these sporadic tumors have occurred at the site of a previous surgical procedure. The current report describes a case of sporadic desmoid tumor that developed at the pancreatic suture line 18 mo following distal pancreatectomy for a nonsecreting islet cell tumor.

METHODS

An extensive literature search was focused on desmoid tumors in general, and sporadic intra-abdominal desmoids in particular.

RESULTS

During the course of this collective review, it was noted that the high rate of postoperative recurrence for intra-abdominal desmoids in genetically determined cases differed markedly from the low rate of recurrence after section of sporadic tumors.