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The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation

October 2018

Staghorn sign: Extra-abdominal desmoid fibromatosis.

Author Information

Ridley LJ(1)(2), Han J(1), Ridley WE(3), Xiang H(1).

(1)Dept of Radiology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia. (2)Discipline of Medical Imaging, Univ of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. (3)Univ of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.

Publication

Ir Med J

Summary

Extra-abdominal desmoid fibromatosis, also known as aggressive fibromatosis, is a slow growing benign tumour that arises from fascia or aponeuroses of muscles. The tumour characteristically grows along fascial planes and can infiltrate subcutaneous tissues and muscles. The pattern of subcutaneous spread seen on ultrasound has been described to resemble a branching staghorn. This represents the local invasion (from the deeper tumour) along fibrous septa into the subcutaneous fat. On CT the tumour is of soft tissue density, similar to muscle, with variable density. On MRI the tumour is again heterogeneous reflecting the mixture of collagen, spindle cells and extra-cellular matrix.

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