Abstract
We report herein the case of a 27-year-old woman found to have an abdominal desmoid tumor involving the xyphoid and costal chondrium associated with pregnancy. The patient was referred to our department on the third day after delivery for investigation of a fist-sized, firm tumor in the infrasternal angle, first noticed during the eighth month of gestation. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a well-defined mass, 9×7.5 cm in size, invading the xyphoid. The tumor could be radically excised with the xyphoid, a lower part of sternum, and the chondrium of the bilateral sixth and seventh ribs, including 1.5 cm of free margin. The resected specimen measured 10×11.5×11.5 cm and weighed 395 g. Histological examination revealed the lesion to be a desmoid tumor consisting of spindle cells with small, elongated nuclei infiltrating dense collagenous fibers. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged on the 11th postoperative day. There has been no evidence of recurrence in the 6 months since her operation. This case is of interest with regard to the possible contribution of sex hormones, especially estrogen, to desmoid tumor development.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Reitamo JJ, Scheinin TM, Hayry P (1986) The desmoid syndrome: new aspects in the cause pathogenesis and treatment of the desmoid tumor. Am J Surg 151:230–237
Posner MC, Shiu MH, Newsome JL, Hajdu SI, Gaynor JJ, Brennan MF (1989) The desmoid tumor: not a benign disease. Arch Surg 124:191–196
McKinnon JG, Neifeld JP, Kay S, Parker GA, Foster WC, Lawrence W (1989) Management of desmoid tumors. Surg Gynecol Obstet 169:104–106
Cohen MD (1992) Imaging of children with cancer. Mosby Year Book St Louis, pp 339–342
Winer-Muram HT, Bowman LC, Parham D (1994) Intrathoracic desmoid tumor: CT and MRI appearance. South Med J 87:1007–1009
Easter DW, Halasz NA (1989) Recent trends in the management of desmoid tumors: summary of 19 cases and review of the literature. Ann Surg 210:765–769
Brodsky JT, Gordon MS, Hajdu SI, Burt M (1992) Desmoid tumors of the chest wall. A locally recurrent problem. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 104:900–903
Lopez R, Kemalyan N, Moseley HS, Dennis D, Vetto RM (1990) Problems in diagnosis and management of desmoid tumors. Am J Surg 159:450–453
Pairolero PC, Arnold PG (1985) Chest wall tumors: experience with 100 consecutive patients. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 90:367–372
Incarbone M, Nava M, Lequaglie C, Ravasi G, Pastorino U (1997) Sternal resection for primary or secondary tumors. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 114:93–99
Waddell WR, Gerner RE, Reich MP (1983) Nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs and tamoxifen for desmoid tumors and carcinoma of the stomach. J Surg Oncol 22:197–211
Sportiello DJ, Hoogerland DL (1991) A recurrent pelvic desmoid tumor successfully treated with tamoxifen. Cancer 67:1443–1146
Lim CL, Walker MJ, Mehta RR, Das Gupta TK (1986) Estrogen and antiestrogen binding sites in desmoid tumors. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol 22:583–587
Bataini JP, Belloir C, Mazabraud A, Pilleron JL, Cartigny A (1988) Desmoid tumors in adults: the role of radiotherapy in their management. Am J Surg 155:754–760
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kunieda, K., Saji, S., Tanaka, Y. et al. An abdominal desmoid tumor involving the xyphoid and costal chondrium associated with pregnancy: Report of a case. Surg Today 29, 927–930 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02482789
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02482789