Desmoid tumors of the chest wall

Twenty-six cases of desmoid tumors of the wall of the chest were reviewed. These are rare lesions, which nonetheless should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all tumors of the chest wall. Although the lesion is most often palpable, several of the tumors were detectable only by means of an x-ray film of the thorax. Definitive diagnosis could not be made clinically but was easily established by pathologic examination of widely excised tumor. Like all desmoid tumors, these were locally aggressive in their growth but nonmetastatic and generally carried a good prognosis. Ideally, treatment consisted of wide local excision, but if there was encroachment of the tumor on vital structures, excision with suboptimal tumor-free margins was required. Even in the latter instance, tumefaction could be well controlled for long periods. Recurrences after an initial attempted removal were common, but most of these responded to reexcision.