Abdominal and extra-abdominal desmoid tumors. Report of 21 cases.

Desmoid tumors are easily diagnosed when located within the muscles of the abdominal wall. On the contrary, extra-abdominal desmoids, because of their various sites and lack of pathognomonic signs, can be very difficult to diagnose. A review of 21 cases of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan confirms that these tumors primarily affect young, multiparous women and that even extra-abdominal desmoids are prevalent in women. All patients were treated by radical surgery consisting of wide exicision in 18 cases, hemimandibulectomy in 1 case, and amputation of the lower limb in 2 cases. Radical surgery resulted in no recurrences in all cases but one. Our results are in contrast with the relatively high recurrence rates reported in the literature.