Efficacy of Vinblastine and Methotrexate in a Childhood Patient with Progressive Desmoid Fibromatosis of the Lower Jaw: A Case Report

Summary

Desmoid fibromatosis (DF) is defined as a borderline tumor of the soft tissues with a low malignant potential. The most common tumor sites are the extremity, trunk, abdominal cavity, and head and neck. Surgical resection has been the standard treatment for DF. However, there are concerns regarding long-term cosmetic outcomes or functional morbidity associated with surgery particularly in the head and neck. Recently, the use of the front-line wait-and-see strategy and pharmacologic treatment such as chemotherapy for progression has been proposed as tumors can spontaneously stabilize and regress. Herein, we report the efficacy of vinblastine (VBL) and methotrexate (MTX) in a childhood patients with DF. A 21-month-old female patient with a 4-cm tumor at the left lower jaw was diagnosed with DF. She did not initially receive any therapies (wait-and-see) according to the recent treatment guidelines. However, the tumor gradually progressed, and the patient was managed with COX2 inhibitor. Since the tumor was not controlled with such a treatment and tracheal exclusion caused by the mass was a cause of concern, the patient was managed with chemotherapy with VBL and MTX. VBL and MTX were administered weekly for 26 weeks, every other week, and further for 26 weeks. The tumor size gradually decreased with VBL and MTX. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed no evidence of the disease at the end of chemotherapy. Good cosmetic outcomes were achieved, and recurrence was not observed after 24 months of follow-up.