National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Desmoid tumor

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Other Names:
Fibromatosis, familial infiltrative; FIF; Familial infiltrative fibromatosis; Fibromatosis, familial infiltrative; FIF; Familial infiltrative fibromatosis; Desmoid disorder, hereditary; Aggressive fibromatosis; Desmoid type fibromatosis See More
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The following summary is from Orphanet, a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.
orphanet

Orpha Number: 873

Definition
A desmoid tumor (DT) is a benign, locally invasive soft tissue tumor associated with a high recurrence rate but with no metastatic potential.

Epidemiology
DTs account for < 3% of soft tissue tumors. Their annual incidence is estimated to range between 1/250,000-1/500,000. They predominantly affect women and can occur between the ages of 15-60 years, but frequently during early adolescence and with a peak age of about 30 years.

Clinical description
In principle, DTs can occur in any part of the body: extra-abdominally (neck, shoulders, upper limbs, gluteal region), abdominally (originating from muscle fascia or the abdominal/chest wall), and more rarely intra-abdominally in the mesentery or retroperitoneum. Usually, they are firm and smooth palpable masses upon discovery. Depending on the location of the tumor, symptoms may include pain, fever, and functional impairment or loss of function of the organ involved. DTs may appear after surgical resections, typically after caesarian section. Intra-abdominal DTs are often observed in patients with an association of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or Gardner syndrome (see these terms).

Etiology
DTs result from the proliferation of well-differentiated myofibroblasts. The exact etiopathogenetic mechanism is still unknown, but they seem to have a multi-factorial origin with hormonal and genetic factors being involved. Somatic mutations in the CTNNB1 gene (3q21) encoding beta-catenin have been found in about 85 % of sporadic cases. In cases with FAP, DTs have been associated with mutations in the tumor suppressor gene APC (5q21-q22) encoding the adenomatous polyposis coli protein.

Diagnostic methods
Initial diagnosis is based on imaging techniques (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) revealing the presence of an infiltrative growing mass. Diagnosis is confirmed by tumor biopsy showing abundant collagen surrounding elongated spindle-shaped cells containing small and regular nuclei and pale cytoplasm. Immunohistological examination shows expression of muscle cell markers (e.g. actin, desmin, vimentine) and absence of CD34. Moreover, diagnosis can be confirmed by screening for mutations of CTNNB1.

Differential diagnosis
The differential diagnosis is broad with fibrosarcomas on the one extreme and myofibroblastic processes such as nodular fasciitis and even hypertrophic scars and keloids on the other. The differential diagnosis of intra-abdominal DTs includes gastrointestinal stromal tumors, solitary fibrous tumors, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors, sclerosing mesenteritis and retroperitoneal fibrosis (see these terms).

Genetic counseling
Most cases are sporadic. Familial cases (5-10 %) are associated with FAP.

Management and treatment
Complete surgical resection remains the therapeutic mainstay of DTs. For unresectable tumors or those not amenable to surgical resection with R0 (microscopic tumor clearance) intent or accompanied by an unacceptable function loss, non-surgical treatments comprise radiotherapy, anti-estrogen therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, chemotherapy (e.g. methotrexate, vinblastine/vinorelbine, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) and/or tyrosine kinase inhibitors (e.g. imatinib, sorafenib). As DTs have a variable and often unpredictable clinical course, a period of watchful waiting is advisable for asymptomatic patients. As DTs often recur, a surveillance strategy every 3-6 months is essential.

Prognosis
Local recurrence occurs in around 70 % of cases. Prognosis depends on the type of tumor. Life expectancy is normal for abdominal and extra-abdominal tumors. However, it is lower in cases of intra-abdominal DTs due to complications such as intestinal obstruction, hydronephrosis or sepsis. Repeated surgical resections are associated with a greater risk of morbidity.

Visit the Orphanet disease page for more resources.
Last updated: 9/1/2013

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Abnormality of the abdominal wall 0004298
Abnormality of the musculature
Muscular abnormality
0003011
Desmoid tumors 0100245
Subcutaneous nodule
Firm lump under the skin
Growth of abnormal tissue under the skin
[ more ] 		0001482
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Abdominal pain
Pain in stomach
Stomach pain
[ more ] 		0002027
Abnormality of retinal pigmentation 0007703
Epidermoid cyst
Skin cyst
0200040
Intestinal polyposis 0200008
Malabsorption
Intestinal malabsorption
0002024
Myalgia
Muscle ache
Muscle pain
[ more ] 		0003326
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Arthralgia
Joint pain
0002829
Chest pain 0100749
Colon cancer 0003003
Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
Gastrointestinal bleeding
0002239
Hydronephrosis 0000126
Intestinal obstruction
Bowel obstruction
Intestinal blockage
[ more ] 		0005214
Limitation of joint mobility
Decreased joint mobility
Decreased mobility of joints
Limited joint mobility
Limited joint motion
[ more ] 		0001376
Neoplasm of the skin
Skin tumors
Tumor of the skin
[ more ] 		0008069
Osteolysis
Breakdown of bone
0002797
Sepsis
Infection in blood stream
0100806
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Autosomal dominant inheritance 0000006
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Last updated: 7/1/2020

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

  • The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Desmoid tumor. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Patient Registry

  • A registry supports research by collecting of information about patients that share something in common, such as being diagnosed with Desmoid tumor. The type of data collected can vary from registry to registry and is based on the goals and purpose of that registry. Some registries collect contact information while others collect more detailed medical information. Learn more about registries.

    Registries for Desmoid tumor:
    DTRF Desmoid Tumor Patient Registry
     

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Desmoid tumor. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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