Surgery for sporadic abdominal desmoid tumor: is low/no recurrence an achievable goal?

Sporadic abdominal desmoid tumors are rare and data on these tumors as a distinct disease entity are lacking. Previous abdominal surgery, trauma, pregnancy and estrogen intake are considered risk factors. Although desmoids are benign, invasion and a high recurrence rate are common.

To evaluate outcomes of surgery for this rare disease.

Since 1995, 16 patients with pathologically confirmed desmoid tumor were operated on in our center. All familial adenomatous polyposis patients were excluded. A retrospective analysis of data was performed.

Of the 16 patients 12 (75%) were females. Mean age was 40.5 years (range 24-70). Thirteen patients were symptomatic and 3 were incidentally diagnosed. All patients presented with an isolated mass; 7 (50%) originated in the abdominal wall, 6 (37.5%) were retroperitoneal and 3 were (18.8%) mesenteric. All tumors except one were completely excised. Morbidity was low with no mortality. One patient was reoperated due to involved margins. None of the patients had recurrence within a median follow-up of 64 months (range 5-143).

The perception of sporadic abdominal desmoids as tumors with a high recurrence rate (20-70%) is probably incorrect. Adequate surgery with wide margins leads to a very low recurrence rate; cure is a legitimate goal.