Desmoid Tumor of the Rectus Abdominis Muscle in a 2-Year-Old Boy

  • Asmir Jonuzi Clinic of Pediatric surgery, Clinical Center University in Sarajevo, Patriotske lige 81, 71 000 Sarajevo
  • Zlatan Zvizdic Clinic of Pediatric surgery, Clinical Center University in Sarajevo, Patriotske lige 81, 71 000 Sarajevo
  • Nusret Popovic Clinic of Pediatric surgery, Clinical Center University in Sarajevo, Patriotske lige 81, 71 000 Sarajevo
  • Emir Milisic Clinic of Pediatric surgery, Clinical Center University in Sarajevo, Patriotske lige 81, 71 000 Sarajevo
  • Azra Karamustafic Clinic of Pediatric surgery, Clinical Center University in Sarajevo, Patriotske lige 81, 71 000 Sarajevo
  • Amira Mesic Clinic for Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Clinical Center University in Sarajevo, Bolnička 25, 71 000 Sarajevo
  • Irmina Sefić Clinic of Radiology, Clinical Center University in Sarajevo, Bolnička 25, 71 000 Sarajevo
  • Amra Džananović Clinic of Radiology, Clinical Center University in Sarajevo, Bolnička 25, 71 000 Sarajevo
Keywords: Desmoid tumor, Aggressive fibromatosis, Reconstruction

Abstract

Aggressive fibromatosis, also known as desmoid tumor, is a locally invasive soft tissue lesion arising from connective tissues. Reports in children less than 10 years of age is rare. We report a case of a  desmoid tumor located at the middle and lower third of the left rectus abdominis, in a 2-year-old-boy. Partial resection of the muscle segment and simultaneous reconstruction of the abdominal wall by abdominal fascia was done. The patient had an uneventful recovery. At one year of follow-up neither recurrence nor functional or aesthetic complications were seen.

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References

Singer S, Maki RG, O'Sullivan B. Soft tissue sarcoma. In: DeVita VT Jr, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA: Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2011, pp 1533-77.

Reitamo JJ, Scheinin TM, Hayry P. The desmoid syndrome: new aspects in the cause, pathogenesis and treatment of the desmoids tumor. Am J Surg. 1996; 151:230- 7.

Stoeckle E, Coindre JM, Longy M, Binh MB, Kantor G, Kind M, et al. Avril A. Bonichon F. Bui BN. A critical analysis of treatment strategies in desmoid tumours: a review of a series of 106 cases. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2009; 35:129-34.

Faulkner LB, Hajdu SI, Kher U. Pediatric desmoid tumor: Retrospective analysis of 63 cases. J Clin Oncol. 1995; 13:2813–8.

Merchant NB, Lewis JJ, Woodruff JM. Extremity and trunk desmoid tumors: A multifactorial analysis of outcome. Cancer. 1999; 86: 2045–2052.

Bonvalot S, Desai A, Coppola S, Le Pechoux C, Ter¬rier P, Domont J, et al. The treatment of des-moid tumors: a stepwise clinical approach. Ann Oncol. 2012; 23:158-66.

Middleton SB, Pack K, Phillips RK. Telomere length in familial adenomatous polyposis-associated desmoids. Dis Colon Rectum. 2000; 43:1535-9.

Kasper B, Baumgarten C, Bonvalot S, et al. Management of sporadic desmoid-type fibromatosis: a European consensus approach based on patients’ and professionals’ expertise–a sarcoma patients EuroNet and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group initiative. Eur J Cancer. 2015; 51:127–36.

Published
2018-06-18
How to Cite
1.
Jonuzi A, Zvizdic Z, Popovic N, Milisic E, Karamustafic A, Mesic A, Sefić I, Džananović A. Desmoid Tumor of the Rectus Abdominis Muscle in a 2-Year-Old Boy. APSP J Case Rep [Internet]. 18Jun.2018 [cited 29Sep.2025];9(2):12. Available from: http://www.apspjcaserep.com/ojs1/index.php/ajcr/article/view/8
Issue
Vol 9 No 2 (2018): APSP Journal of Case Reports
Section
Case Reports

Copyright (c) 2018 Asmir Jonuzi, Zlatan Zvizdic, Nusret Popovic, Emir Milisic, Azra Karamustafic, Amira Mesic, Irmina Sefić, Amra Džananović

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INTRODUCTION

Desmoid tumors, also known as desmoid-type fibromatosis or aggressive fibromatosis, are benign mesenchymal neoplasm characterized by aggressive local infiltration of surrounding tissues, with uncertain growth and increased chances of recurrence, despite no metastatic potential.[1] Although first described by MacFarlane in 1832, the term desmoid was given in 1838 by Muller in Berlin, who first used the term “desmos” relating to the Greek word – “similar to tendon”. Desmoid tumor is a rare, deep-seated, musculoaponeurotic tumor of intermediate malignancy with an annual incidence of 0.2 to 0.4 per 100,000 population.[2] These are slowly growing tumors and may take years to get a noticeable mass. It is rarely reported in infants. Herein, we report anterior abdominal wall desmoid in an infant.

CASE REPORT

A 2-year-old boy presented with a 2-month history of progressively increasing paraumbilical mass. There was no history of trauma and the baby was normal otherwise. Parents decided to seek medical attention on account of abdominal discomfort. The pregnancy, birth and neonatal history were uneventful and he completed the National Programme on Immunization schedule for his age. General physical examination was normal. Physical examination revealed a supra and infra umbilical painless mass on the left abdominal region next to the umbilicus measuring about 4 × 2 cm in diameter, spherical in shape with well-defined edges. The mass was not warm, not tender, firm in consistency and was not attached to skin but attached to underlying structures. Rectal examination was essentially normal. He underwent a Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of abdomen which showed a 43 × 12 × 20 mm, ovoid, heterogeneous mass, restricted to the rectus abdominis sheath and located at the middle and the lower third of the rectus abdominis muscle (Figure 1A). Surgery was performed and it was completely removed with resection of middle and lower rectus muscle. The defect was covered with surrounding fascia. A histopathologic study confirmed the diagnosis of a desmoid tumor with clear surgical margins (Figure 1B, 1C, 1D). The patient had an uneventful recovery. After one year of follow-up, no relapse was seen.

Surgery was performed and it was completely removed with resection of middle and lower rectus muscle. The defect was covered with surrounding fascia. A histopathologic study confirmed the diagnosis of a desmoid tumor with clear surgical margins (Figure 1B, 1C, 1D). The patient had an uneventful recovery. After one year of follow-up, no relapse was seen.

Figure 1: (A): Magnetic resonance showing ovoid lesion and hypodense mass in left rectus abdominis sheath; (B,C): Perioperative picture; (D): Cut section of the mass.

DISCUSSION

Desmoid tumors account for 3% of all soft tissue neoplasms. Desmoid tumors are typically slowly growing mesenchymal tissue; however, they may infiltrate deeper tissue planes thus high chances of recurrence. They often occur in the second or third decade of life but some series have documented desmoid tumors in the middle-aged and elderly.[3]

Occurrence of desmoid tumor in the first decade of life is very rare, our patient was 2-year-old and had noticed the anterior abdominal mass for about 2 month without symptoms and the size had only increased moderately showing the slow-growing nature of the tumor. At surgery, a well-circumscribed tumor mass attached to the inner layer of the rectus abdominis muscle was found and this was excised completely with about 1 cm tumor margin. In children, a negative margin of resection significantly reduces the recurrence of the tumor [4] however in adults, recurrence can occur in the tumor-free margins.[5]

The diagnosis is based on clinical, radiologic and histopathologic criteria. Its main characteristic is infiltration of the muscles and deep structures. This feature differentiates desmoid tumor from sarcomas.[5] It occurs more commonly in individuals with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) occurring as part of an inherited syndrome (Gardner’s syndrome).[6] Desmoids arise from myofibroblasts, lacks a true capsule and usually infiltrate into the surrounding muscle. The telomerase length and activity is normal [7], nuclei are small and regular, and mitoses are infrequent – all of which support its histologically benign nature.

Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for desmoid tumors of the abdominal wall. Wide local resection, advocated nearly 100 years ago, remains the treatment of choice for most patients with desmoid tumors. The excision should be completed with 1 cm margin and the resultant defect is to be repaired with local muscle flaps, distant muscle flaps or by synthetic mesh if necessary.[7, 8] Recurrence rates are lower if adequately excised and the morbidity rates associated with the procedure is negligible. Margin-negative resection has historically been the gold standard for treatment of abdominal wall and intra-abdominal desmoid tumors.

To conclude, primary surgery with negative surgical margins was found to be the most successful primary treatment modality for children with a desmoid tumor. A long follow-up is necessary to pick any recurrence.

Conflicts of interest: None

Source of Support: Nil

All authors contributed equally in concept, design, literature review, drafting the manuscript, and approval of the final manuscript.

Consent Statement: Authors declared that they have taken informed written consent, for publication of this report along with clinical photographs/material, from the legal guardian of the patient with an understanding that every effort will be made to conceal the identity of the patient however it cannot be guaranteed.

  1. , , (). . . .1533-77.
  2. , , (). The desmoid syndrome: new aspects in the cause, pathogenesis and treatment of the desmoids tumor. Am J Surg 151, 230-7.
  3. , , , , , (). A critical analysis of treatment strategies in desmoid tumours: a review of a series of 106 cases. Eur J Surg Oncol 35, 129-34.
  4. , , (). Pediatric desmoid tumor: Retrospective analysis of 63 cases. J Clin Oncol 13, 2813-8.
  5. , , (). Extremity and trunk desmoid tumors: A multifactorial analysis of outcome. Cancer 86, 2045-2052.
  6. , , , , , (). The treatment of desmoid tumors: a stepwise clinical approach. Ann Oncol 23, 158-66.
  7. , , (). Telomere length in familial adenomatous polyposis-associated desmoids. Dis Colon Rectum 43, 1535-9.
  8. , , (). Management of sporadic desmoid-type fibromatosis: a European consensus approach based on patients' and professionals' expertise–a sarcoma patients EuroNet and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group initiative. Eur J Cancer 51, 127-36.