EXTRA-ABDOMINAL DESMOID TUMOR - DIAGNOSTI CAL, PROGNOSTICAL AND THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS

We report the case of a 19 year-old female patient who consulted for a recurrent desmoid tumor of the back which had initially developed dur ing childhood. Its clinical aspect was reminiscent of a localized subc utaneous tumor, but surgical exploration revealed multiple ramified ex tensions spreading over a wide area deep into the underlying muscular tissue. In spite of two attempts at wide surgery, complete resection w as not achieved. EAD tumors are a distinct category between fibromatos is and fibrosarcoma. There is a direct contrast between the benign his tological structure and the lack of a metastatic potential, and the fa ct that they are highly aggressive locally with a great proportion of relapses occuring after resection. Prognosis, which is good in terms o f survival, is determinant in the choice of treatment which must remai n conservative in the majority of cases. Wide, non mutilating surgery offers the best chances of cure without sequelae. When surgery may be mutilating, 50-60 Gy of radiotherapy (RT) is a good alternative and af fords a high rate of complete regression over a long period of time. T he value of adjuvant RT after surgical resection has yet to be determi ned. Hormonotherapy and other drugs are currently being evaluated.