Desmoid tumor of the chest wall in an elderly woman.

We report a case of desmoid tumor of the chest wall in a 79-year-old woman. The patient was referred to our hospital for management of a chest wall mass. Four months previously, the patient noted a small lump in the right lateral chest wall that had rapidly increased in size. Magnetic resonance imaging of the chest revealed a soft tissue tumor in the right lateral chest wall with unclear margins that extended into the intercostal muscles. Positron emission tomography with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) showed slight FDG accumulation at the lesion. Because open biopsy suggested a desmoid tumor, full-thickness chest wall resection with reconstruction was performed. The final diagnosis was desmoid tumor of the chest wall. Wide surgical resection during the initial operation is an essential element in the treatment of this tumor.