[Extra-abdominal desmoid tumors. Apropos of a case in the calf]

A young 15 year old girl presented with a voluminous desmoid tumor of the calf. Three attempts to excise the tumor were only partially successful because of the risk of vascular and nerve damage, and excision was incomplete on each occasion. These tactics appeared to be justified, however, since the tumor had little functional effects and appeared to become stable at the last examination. The tactical surgical problems are discussed, the benign nature of the tumor imposing conservative surgery which is often incomplete, although in certain cases the operation can be combined with a recovery arterial shunt. The various etiopathogenic elements of these tumors are described.