Extraabdominal desmoid tumor with dissemination detected by thallium-201 scintigraphy

Extraabdominal desmoid tumor is a locally aggressive tumor despite being histologically benign. To avoid local recurrence, it is important to preoperatively detect the exact localization and extension of the infiltrating or disseminating lesion in this tumor. We report a case of recurrent extraabdominal desmoid tumor, which arose in the posterior thigh region, detected with Tl-201 (Tl) scintigraphy. In this case, Tl accumulated in the small disseminating lesion and to the recurrent tumor. This lesion was not identified by palpation because of its small size, deep localization and absence of symptoms, although MR imaging, which was performed after the Tl scintigraphy, clearly showed the lesion. After tumor resection, Tl did not accumulate in any region. These results suggest that Tl scintigraphy may be useful, not only for the diagnosis of extraabdominal desmoid tumor, but also for the detection of the exact localization or extension of small infiltrating or disseminating lesions before treatment.