Updates and controversies for desmoids in familial adenomatous polyposis

Summary

Desmoids are rare non-cancerous fibrous growths with variable behavior ranging from slow indolent growth or even regression, to locally aggressive and progressive tumors that can cause significant morbidity or mortality. Approximately 10-15% of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) develop desmoid disease, most commonly located in the abdomen, on the abdominal wall, or in limbs. The majority of desmoids in FAP occur after abdominal surgery. Management is quite challenging and employing a multidisciplinary team at a specialized center is important for success. New treatment modalities have emerged, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, γ-secretase inhibitors, and ablation techniques, complementing the existing repertoire of therapies such as NSAIDs, anti-hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical interventions. Surgery remains the treatment of choice for easily resectable abdominal wall desmoids and intra-abdominal desmoids that cause intractable symptoms, or progressive disease despite alternate therapies, or complications from the invasion of nearby organs. When considering prophylactic colectomies in FAP patients, it's essential to account for the desmoidogenic potential of surgical interventions, especially in high-risk individuals with a positive family history of desmoids, presence of extracolonic manifestations and carriers of certain genotypes. Given the rarity of the disease and the variability in both anatomical presentation and clinical course, desmoids should be managed by a multidisciplinary team capable of coordinating patient specific care and optimizing treatment options.