Gigantic recurrent abdominal desmoid tumour: a case report.

Deeply seated fibromatosis or desmoid tumour (DT) is a rare entity characterized by benign proliferation of fibroblasts. Although non-malignant, this tumour can be life-threatening due to its invasive property and high recurrence rate. We report a unique case of a huge recurrent abdominal DT (36 cm in diameter, 25 kg in weight) that caused pressure necrosis and sloughing of the overlying anterior abdominal wall, and produced a large fungating mass protruding outside the abdomen. Although preoperative neoadjuvant therapies were all ineffective, radical surgical removal of the tumour was successful. The procedure was followed by an excellent clinical recovery and the patient is still alive with no evidence of recurrent disease after a 6-year follow-up. We recommend surgical removal of DT regardless of its size and in particular in cases where there is no or inadequate response to neoadjuvant therapy.