Differential diagnostic problems in desmoid and fibrosarcoma

On the basis of 10 patients treated at the Orthopaedic Clinic of the Semmelweis University Medical School, the histology, clinical symptoms, recurrence rate and principles of surgical treatment of the disease are discussed. Two further cases are described in detail in which initially a desmoid was diagnosed but later based on the clinica-history and the histological appearance of recurrences the diagnosis of a differentiated fibrosarcoma had to be established. An account of differential diagnostic criteria between desmoid and fibrosarcoma is given.