Postoperative developed intra-abdominal desmoid tumor after surgical resection of gastrointestinal malignancy: A review of 10 cases

Abstract

Purpose

Desmoid tumors are locally aggressive tumors with no known potential for metastasis. They tend to recur even after complete excision. Sometimes it is not easy to differentiate between intra-abdominal desmoid and tumor recurrence, especially after gastrointestinal (GI) tumor resection. The current study aims to review the characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with intra-abdominal desmoid tumor post GI resection.

Methods

During the period between 2007 and 2018, after a retrospective review of patients’ clinical data, 10 patients were finally included. Medical records were screened for demographic, clinical, pathological data, management strategy, postoperative morbidity, mortality, recurrence rate and follow-up.

Results

The study comprised 10 patients (8 males). The median age was 53.5 years (range, 35–68 years). Two patients diagnosed as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). All the patients underwent previous GI resection: three (30%) for colon cancer, three (30%) gastrectomy, two (20%) total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (TPC+IPAA) for FAP, one (10%) low anterior resection (three rectal cancers) and one (10%) distal pancreatectomy. The tumor was found to be in bowel mesentery in eight cases (80%). The median tumor size was 5.3 cm (range, 2.6–19.0 cm). Six patients (60%) underwent open resection, while four patients (40%) underwent laparoscopic surgery. Complications occurred in five cases (50%) and ranged from Clavien-Dindo (II–III). The median follow-up period was 16.5 months (1.5–136.0 months) with recurrence in one case (10%). Pathology came out to be desmoid tumor fibromatosis in all cases.

Conclusion

When a mass develops after surgical resection for abdominal GI malignancy and tends to be large in size, located in the bowel mesentery and away from previous primary tumor site, most probably it is desmoid rather than tumor recurrence.