FIBROMATOSIS (DESMOID TUMOR) FOLLOWING RADIATION-THERAPY FOR HODGKINS-DISEASE

Fibromatosis (desmoid tumor) can sometimes develop at sites of previou s surgery or previous trauma, but it is very rarely detected at sites of prior irradiation. We report two cases of fibromatosis following ra diotherapy for Hodgkin's disease. The fibromatoses, developing in the radiation fields, were detected at the posterior area of the neck 11 y ears after irradiation in one case and in the peritoneal cavity 3 year s after laparotomy and irradiation in the second case. The tumors did not differ clinically or histologically from those seen in patients wh o did not undergo irradiation. Although rare, fibromatosis should ente r the differential diagnosis of masses developing in irradiated fields in patients with treated Hodgkin's disease.