Giant desmoid tumor of the abdominal wall: a case report

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Desmoid tumors are a rare type of benign fibromatosis. Patients often present with a painless abdominal mass. Here, we report a case of a giant desmoid tumor of the abdominal wall that was successfully treated with wide local excision. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 48-year-old female who developed an abdominal mass over the past year. Imaging revealed a well-circumscribed mass on the left side of the abdomen, which was treated with wide local excision. Immunohistochemical analysis of the specimen confirmed the diagnosis of a desmoid tumor. The patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery and remained in remission during an 18-month follow-up period. DISCUSSION: Desmoid tumors are very rare benign lesions that typically affect young women. Abdominal wall localization is more common in individuals with Gardner syndrome. Surgery remains the primary treatment, with the approach depending on the size and location of the lesion. Radiotherapy is considered an alternative for tumors that are unresectable or incompletely excised. The definitive diagnosis requires immunohistochemical analysis of the specimen. CONCLUSION: Desmoid tumors are benign fibromatoses that can occur in the abdominal wall. Symptoms are typically non-specific. Surgery is the main treatment, always aiming for radical resection with free margins. Histological analysis of the surgical specimen is crucial for confirming the diagnosis.