Fibromatosis is a histologically benign fibrous neoplasm that arises from the musculoaponeurotic tissues of the body. It can have significant morbidity when it occurs in the head and neck region because of the proximity of vital structures. This review article considers the etiology, demographics, pathology, natural history, and various treatment modalities for this lesion. Therapeutic guidelines are provided.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BatsakisJGRaslanW.Pathology consultation—extra-abdominal desmoid fibromatosis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1994; 103: 331–4.
2.
El-SayedY.Fibromatosis of the head and neck. J Laryngol Otol1992; 106:459–62.
ReitamoJJHayryPNykriEThe desmoid tumor. I. Incidence, sex-, age- and anatomical distribution in the Finnish population. Am J Clin Pathol1983; 77:665–73.
5.
PackGIEhrlichHe.Neoplasms of the anterior abdominal wall with special consideration of desmoid tumors: Experience with 391 cases and collective review of the literature. Int Abs Surg1944; 79:177–98.
6.
EnzingerFMShirakiM.Musculo-aponeurotic fibromatosis of the shoulder girdle (extra-abdominal desmoid). Analysis of ten cases followed up for ten or more years. Cancer1967; 20:1131–40.
7.
Das GuptaTKBrasfieldRDO'HaraJ.Extra-abdominal desmoids: A clinicopathologic study. Ann Surg1969; 170:109–21.
8.
MassonJKSouleEh.Desmoid tumors of the head and neck. Am J Surg1966; 112:615–22.
9.
ConleyJHealeyWVStoutAp.Fibromatosis of the head and neck. Am J Surg1966; 112:609–14.
10.
GneppDRHenleyJWeissSDesmoid fibromatosis of the sinonasal tract and nasopharynx—a clinicopathologic study of 25 cases. Cancer1996; 78:2572–9.
11.
HuntRMorganHCAchermanLv.Principles in the management of extra-abdominal desmoids. Cancer1960; July-August:825–36.
12.
SiemssenSJAnagnostakiT.Aggressive fibromatosis (extraabdominal desmoids) of the head and neck. Br J Plast Surg1984; 37:453–7.
13.
FaschingMCSalehJWoodsJe.Desmoid tumors of the head and neck. Am J Surg1988; 156:327–31.
14.
HumanAChouSCarpenterB.Fibromatosis in infancy and childhood: The spectrum. J Pediatr Surg1993; 28:1446–50.
15.
PosnerMCShiuMHNewsomeJLThe desmoid tumor not a benign disease. Arch Surg1989; 124:191–6.
16.
SouleEHScanlonPw.Fibrosarcoma arising in an extra-abdominal desmoid tumor: Report of a case. Proc Staff Meetings Mayo Clin1962; 37:443–51.
17.
PenickRm.Desmoid tumors developing in operative scars. Int Surg Digest1937; 23:323–9.
18.
HayryPReitamoJJTottermanSThe desmoid tumor. II. Analysis of factors possibly contributing to the etiology and growth behavior. Am J Clin Pathol1982; 77:681–5.
19.
GoellnerJRSouleEh.Desmoid tumors: An ultrastructural study of eight cases. Hum Pathol1980; 11:43–50.
20.
BooherRJPackGt.Desmoids of the abdominal wall in children. Cancer1951; 4:1052–65.
21.
StrodeJe.Desmoid tumors particularly related to their surgical removal. Ann Surg1954; 139:335–40.
22.
DahnIJonssonNLundhG.Desmoid tumors. A series of 33 cases. Acta Chir Scand1963; 126:305–14.
23.
LipschultzAVargasL.Experimental tumorigenesis with subcutaneous tablets of oestradiol. Lancet1939; 1:1313–8.
24.
KinzbrunnerBRitterSDomingoJRemission of rapidly growing desmoid tumors after tamoxifen therapy. Cancer1983; 52:2201–4.
25.
WaddellWRGernerREReichMp.Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and tamoxifen for desmoid tumors and carcinoma of the stomach. J Surg Oncol1983; 22:197–211.
26.
McDougallAMcGarrityG.Extra-abdominal desmoid tumors. J Bone Joint Surg Br1979; 61–B:373–7.
27.
EasterDWHalaszNa.Recent trends in the management of desmoid tumors. Ann Surg1989; 210:765–9.
28.
LimCLWalkerMJMehtaRREstrogen and antiestrogen binding sites in desmoid tumors. Eur J Clin Oncol1986; 22:583–7.
29.
MaddalozzoJTentaLTHutchingsonLRJuvenile fibromatosis: Hormonal receptors. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol1993; 25:191–9.
30.
ZayidIDihmisC.Familial multicentric fibromatosis—desmoids. A report of three cases in a Jordanian family. Cancer1969; 24:786–95.
NaeemRFletcherJa.Trisomy 8 is a potential genetic marker of high risk in desmoid tumors [abstract]. Am J Hum Genet1992; 51A:279.
35.
BridgeJASreekantaiahCMouronBClonal abnormalities in desmoid tumors. Cancer1992; 69:430–6.
36.
AlmanBAPajerskiMEDiaz-CanoSAggressive fibromatosis (desmoid tumor) is a monoclonal disorder. Diagn Mol Pathol1997; 6:98–101.
37.
LucasDRShroyerKRMcCarthyPJDesmoid tumor is a clonal cellular proliferation: PCR amplification of HUMARA for analysis of patterns of X-chromosome inactivation. Am J Surg Pathol1997; 21:306–11.
38.
FeinmesserKBergerSGapany-GapanaviciusBAutoimmune fibromatosis of the neck—a new entity?J Laryngol Otol1987; 101:527–8.
39.
MiralbellRSuitHDMankinHJFibromatoses: From post-surgical surveillance to combined surgery and radiation therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys1990; 18:535–40.
CattonCNO'SullivanBOBellRAggressive fibromatosis: Optimisation of local management with a retrospective failure analysis. Radiother Oncol1995; 34:17–22.
42.
GreenbergHMGoebelRWeichselbaumRRRadiation therapy in the treatment of aggressive fibromatosis. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys1981; 7:305–10.
43.
LeibelSAWaraWMHillDRDesmoid tumors: Local control and patterns of relapse following radiation therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys1983; 9:1167–71.
44.
KielKDSuitHd.Radiation therapy in the treatment of aggressive fibromatosis (desmoid tumors). Cancer1984; 54:2051–5.
45.
ShermanNERomsdahlMEvansHDesmoid tumors: A 20 year radiotherapy experience. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys1990; 19:37–40.
46.
SchmittGMillsEedLevinVRadiotherapy of aggressive fibromatosis. Eur J Cancer1992; 28A:832–5.
47.
SpearMAJenningsLCEfirdJTIndications for radiation therapy and surgery in the treatment of fibromatosis [abstract]. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys1995; 32:288.
48.
KamathSSParsonsJTMarcusRBRadiotherapy for local control of aggressive fibromatosis. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys1996; 36:325–8.
49.
MaillardAjaKountakisSe.Pediatric sino-orbital desmoid fibromatosis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1996; 105:463–6.
50.
LipschultzAMaasM.Progesterone treatment of uterine and other abdominal fibroids induced in guinea pigs by alpha estradiol. Cancer Res1944; 4:18–23.
51.
LanariA.Effect of progesterone on desmoid tumors. N Engl J Med1983; 309:1523.
52.
LanariAMolinasFCRiosCastro MEficaz tratamiento de diversas fibromatosis con progesterona: Mediatinits fibrosa, tumores desmoides, fibrosis paraneoplastica. Medicina (B Aires)1978; 38:123–32.
53.
WaddellWr.Treatment of intra-abdominal and abdominal wall desmoid tumor with drugs that affect the metabolism of cyclic 3î,5î-adenosine monophosphate. Ann Surg1975; 181:299–302.
54.
WaddellWRGernerRe.Indomethacin and ascorbate inhibit desmoid tumors. J Surg Oncol1980; 15:85–90.
55.
WaddellWRKirschWm.Testolactone, sulindac, warfarin, and vitamin K1 for unresectable desmoid tumors. Am J Surg1991; 161:416–21.
56.
SciarraF.Anti-estrogens and aromatase inhibitors: Tamoxifen and testolactone. J Endocrinol Invest1988; 11:755–62.
57.
ProcterHSinghLBaumMResponse of multicentric desmoid tumours to tamoxifen. Br J Surg1987; 74:401.
58.
SauvenP.Musculo-aponeurotic fibromatosis treated by surgery and testolactone. J R Soc Med1982; 75:281–3.
59.
FujimotoYHidaiK.Aggressive fibromatosis in the neck. A case treated effectively by testolactone with a long follow-up study. Surg Today1990; 20:453–7.
60.
GoepfertHCangirAAyalaAGChemotherapy of locally aggressive head and neck tumors in the pediatric age group. Am J Surg1982; 144:437–44.
61.
WeissAJLackmanRd.Low-dose chemotherapy of desmoid tumors. Cancer1989; 64:1192–4.
62.
SkapekSXHawkBJHofferFACombination chemotherapy using vinblastine and methotrexate for the treatment of progressive desmoid tumor in children. J Clin Oncol1998; 16:3021–7.
63.
WestCBShagetFWManfieldMj.Nonsurgical treatment of aggressive fibromatosis in the head and neck. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1989; 101:338–43.
