Cryoablation in Extra-Abdominal Desmoid Tumors: A 10-Year Experience in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients

To determine the efficacy and safety of cryoablation in pediatric and young adult patients with desmoid tumors (DTs) retrospectively over a 10-year period.

Twenty-one patients (age 2-22 years; median 14 years), with 21 desmoid tumors, underwent a total of 34 percutaneous cryoablation procedures between August 2013 and August 2023. All patients, excluding two, had surgical resection, chemotherapy, or a combination of these therapies with failed or suboptimal response. Clinical and imaging outcomes were analyzed for technical success, change in tumor volume, and recurrence of tumor, symptom improvement or recurrence, and procedure-related complications.

All procedures were technically successful. The median follow-up duration was 9 months (range, 3-32 months); total symptomatic improvement was achieved in 90% (19/21) patients, noticeable pain relief was seen in 100% (18/18) and 90% (9/10) patients had improved range of motion (ROM), discomfort resolved in 66.7% (2/3) patients. Of the treated tumors, 43% (9/21) showed greater than 75% tumor volume reduction of which 44% (4/9) had no evidence of viable residual tumor at follow-up, and 33% (7/21) had 50-75% volume reduction and 14% (3/21) had greater than 40-50% tumor volume reduction. According to modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST), 71%( 15/21) had partial response (PR), 19% (4/21) had complete response (CR), and 10% (2/21) had stable disease. Four (12%) treatments were associated with minor complications, which self-resolved.

In this, predominantly pediatric patient cohort, cryoablation was effective and safe for the local control of extra-abdominal desmoid tumors in short-term follow-up.