[Clinical features and surgical treatment of chest aggressive fibromatosis]

To investigate the clinical features and surgical treatment of chest aggressive fibromatosis.

Twenty-five patients with aggressive fibromatosis treated from September 1998 to May 2014 in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were included in this study.

The 25 patients, including 12 males and 13 famales, had an average age of 38 (range 15-76 years). The initial manifestations included chest pain (9 patients, 36.0%) and shortness of breath (1 patient). In 13 patients (52.0%) the tumor was found in a physical examination. Two patients (8.0%) were detected during an operation for lung disease. The tumor was located in the left chest wall in 15 patients, and located on the right side in 10 patients. Among them, the most common locations were the left front chest wall and the right front chest wall. The operation method affects the prognosis. Radiological imaging and needle biopsy did not make a correct diagnosis, and the diagnosis of aggressive fibromatosis was confirmed by pathology using immunohistechmistry after surgery. 13 patients underwent tumor resection, 9 cases had expanded resection, 3 patients had palliative resection. Six cases received radiotherapy after surgery. The median follow-up time was 101.5 months. Currently, all of the 25 patients are still alive, but 5 cases had local recurrence after surgery, among them, 4 patients received tumor resection, and one patient underwent expanded resection.

Aggressive fibromatosis is a low-grade malignant tumor. The diagnosis of aggressive fibromatosis needs to be confirmed by pathology using immunohistechmical staining after surgery. Although this tumor is liable to relapse, its prognosis is favorable. Radical surgery is the most important treatment for patients to get a higher quality of life and long-term survival without recurrence.