Desmoid Tumor: Manifestations, Remedies, and Forecast
Desmoid tumors, although not cancerous, can pose a significant challenge due to their locally aggressive nature and high recurrence rates. These tumors, which grow from connective tissue, providing structural support and protection to vital organs, have been the subject of extensive research to uncover their causes and effective treatment methods.
Common risk factors associated with the development of desmoid tumors include female sex and reproductive age, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), surgical scars or trauma, and elevated estrogen levels.
Females, particularly during adolescence and reproductive years, have a higher incidence of desmoid tumors. This correlation may be due to hormonal influences, such as increased estrogen levels, which are thought to contribute to tumor development.
Individuals with FAP, a hereditary syndrome, have a predisposition to desmoid tumors. This condition significantly raises the risk of desmoid tumor development.
Prior surgery or injury has been identified as a potential triggering factor for desmoid tumor formation, possibly due to abnormal wound healing responses. Surgical scars or trauma sites may serve as a breeding ground for these tumors.
The exact cause of desmoid tumors remains unclear, but these factors are consistently reported in the literature as contributing to risk. No specific genetic risk factors have been conclusively identified beyond FAP, although desmoid tumors may arise from mesenchymal progenitor cells.
The diagnosis of a desmoid tumor begins with an ultrasound and may include a biopsy, MRI or CT scan, and assessment of whether the tumor is attached to nearby organs. Once diagnosed, the survival rate of desmoid tumors is not accurately known, but they can cause pain, damage organs, and require additional surgeries or treatments for complications. Desmoid tumors can recur, and people with a desmoid tumor may develop more in the future.
Chemotherapy is a treatment option for desmoid tumors, with drugs such as doxorubicin, liposomal doxorubicin, dacarbazine, methotrexate, vinorelbine, vinblastine, and others used. The surgeon removes a margin of tissue surrounding the desmoid tumor to reduce the risk of invading surrounding structures.
Treatment for desmoid tumors is best managed by a medical team specializing in sarcomas, including medical oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, genetic specialists, nurses, and others. Anecdotal reports suggest success with treatments like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), hormonal agents, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, but clinical trials have not yet confirmed their safety and effectiveness.
No specific intervention can currently prevent desmoid tumors. After treatment, a person may need physical therapy to regain function in the original site of the tumor. Desmoid tumors can develop in most parts of the body but typically grow in the shoulders, legs, upper arms, and around abdominal organs like the intestines.
Thermal ablation is an emerging treatment for desmoid tumors, using intense heat, cold, or focused ultrasound, but the long-term effects are not yet clear. Symptoms of desmoid tumors may include a firm mass or lump, mild pain, rectal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, localized pain or stiffness, limping, mobility difficulties, loss of sleep, anxiety, and other symptoms depending on the tumor's location.
Radiation therapy is used in specific circumstances for desmoid tumors, but it can have severe side effects and may lead to new cancers. In some cases, doctors may monitor desmoid tumors before proceeding with more intensive treatment. Genetic mutations in fibroblasts, the cells that make up connective tissue, can cause desmoid tumors.
In the United States, about 900 people receive a diagnosis of desmoid tumors each year. Desmoid tumors are not cancerous themselves and do not originate from other cancers. They do not spread but can grow large enough to interfere with vital bodily functions. Desmoid tumors can regrow at their original site after treatment, making surgery less common.
Sources: [1] National Cancer Institute. (2021). Desmoid Tumors Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version. Retrieved from
Desmoid tumors, a type of medical-condition that grows from connective tissue, are not cancerous but can pose significant challenges due to their locally aggressive nature and high recurrence rates. Despite this, science continues to explore the causes and effective therapies and treatments for desmoid tumors. Individuals with a hereditary syndrome called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) have a predisposition to developing these tumors, raising their risk significantly. Additionally, surgical scars or trauma sites may serve as a breeding ground for desmoid tumors, potentially triggered by abnormal wound healing responses. While the exact cause of desmoid tumors remains unclear, chemotherapy and surgery are currently used as treatment options, with a medical team specializing in sarcomas providing the best care for individuals diagnosed with desmoid tumors.
