Rare localisation of a recurrent desmoid tumour of the foot: A case report and review of the literature

Summary

Introduction and importance: Aggressive fibromatosis or desmoid tumour is a rare soft tissue tumour that develops from supporting tissues and fascia. Although benign, fibromatosis is a tumour that can be locally invasive, and surgical treatment is often difficult. The interest of this observation is to show the particular characteristics of desmoid tumours: the frequency, the major difficulties of excision and the role of adjuvant treatment in the management of these tumours. Case presentation: The patient was 27 years old male, and had a pathological history of a recurrent desmoid tumour on the dorsal surface of the right foot, which had been present for 10 years, had been operated on 5 times and could not be completely removed. A radiological work-up confirmed the nature of the lesion, necessitating a biopsy, which confirmed the diagnosis of a recurrence of the desmoid tumour on the sole of the foot. Clinical discussion: Desmoid tumour is a rare tumour with less than 5 cases per million inhabitants, histologically benign and belonging to the deep fibromatosis group. The average age is 30, with a predominance of women. The most common location for desmoid tumours is the abdominal wall, and they are usually single and unilateral. The treatment of desmoid tumours is primarily surgical, but is fraught with technical difficulties due to the absence of any cleavage plane and the particularly tight adhesions to neighbouring structures. Radiotherapy or hormone therapy has been advocated as an adjunct to tumour resection, but its value is debated, and recurrence occurs in 50-80 % of cases. Conclusion: The desmoid tumour is a very rare tumour, with an infiltrating and aggressive benign character, whose surgical treatment is difficult, and whose evolution is marked by recurrences.