Musculoskeletal desmoid tumours: Pre‐ and post‐treatment radiological appearances

Abstract

SummaryThis study was aimed to illustrate the pre-and post-treatment imaging findings of musculoskeletal desmoid tumours and describe current treatment methods. Imaging of histologically proven cases of desmoid tumours at St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, were obtained via picture archiving communication system (PACS) and then assessed by two musculoskeletal radiologists. Suitable imaging both pre-and post-treatment were then obtained from PACS. All imaging chosen were de-identified. Ninety-two patients were found to have histologically proven cases of desmoid tumours between January 2000 and December 2013. Six patients with extraabdominal tumours were selected, where pre-and post-treatment imaging was available. Desmoid tumours can occur in many areas of the body. Treatment of desmoids are varied. Although wide-margin surgery has been the traditional form of treatment, it still cannot guarantee absence of tumour recurrence despite microscopically tumour-free margins. Other forms of treatment such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and also the conservative 'watch and wait' approach have been suggested, which show varying results.

Desmoid Tumor in Hand: A Case Report

“…However, in many cases, surgery can't be performed due to the large local involvement. Therefore, the doctors try different conducts: the chemotherapeutic treatment, drugs treatments by anti-inflammatory and hormonal therapy [4].…”

“…However, it has a high recurrence rate when approached surgically: for primary tumors, in the first 5 years, the number of relapse is about 80 to 90%. After this period, it reduces to 56% depending on the size, location, patient age and size of the resected margin [4]. Besides that, the rapid growth results in local destruction, loss of function and deformity of the adjacent structures.…”

Multimodality Imaging Assessment of Desmoid Tumors: The Great Mime in the Era of Multidisciplinary Teams

“…Extra-abdominal DTs (EADTs) localization is more common in the head and neck region, where involvement of the airways or major vessels can present with hoarseness, dyspnea or, in extremely rare cases, be fatal [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. Follow localizations at limbs, presenting as palpable masses, severe pain or muscle contractures and at the thoracic and abdominal wall [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ].…”