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The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation

March 2020

Desmoid tumor mimics local recurrence of extremity sarcoma on MRI

Author Information

Sabharwal S(1), Ahlawat S(2), Levin AS(1)(3), Meyer CF(3), Brooks E(4), Ligon J(5), Morris CD(1)(3).

(1)Division of Orthopaedic Oncology, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. (2)Russell H. Morgan, Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. (3)Department of Medical Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.(4)Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. (5)Department of Pediatric Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.

Publication

J Surg Oncol

Summary

We report four cases of desmoid-type fibromatosis ("desmoid tumors") mimicking local recurrence after extremity sarcoma resection. We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients treated for extremity sarcoma by our orthopedic oncology service from 2014 to 2019 and identified four patients with biopsy-proven desmoid tumors. We extracted clinical, pathologic, radiographic, and operative data for the primary neoplasms and desmoid tumors. Four patients with post resection surveillance magnetic resonance imaging suspicious for local recurrence underwent further analysis showing desmoid tumors. Patients underwent image-guided needle biopsy, with specimens demonstrating fibromatosis-type histologic characteristics. Two cases were beta-catenin positive. Desmoid tumors were managed with observation. No patient had experienced local or distant recurrence of the primary tumor at a mean follow-up of 30 months after resection (range, 23-34 months); none underwent surgery for symptoms of desmoid tumors.

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