Mesenteric fibromatosis in Gardner's syndrome.

Two patients with mesenteric fibromatosis in Gardner's syndrome were treated by us. These tumors are slow-growing and may remain quiescent for long periods. Review of similar cases in the literature discloses that less than half of these tumors have been removed, pointing to the difficulty of their resection. Dissection of the infraduodenal portion of superior mesenteric vessels may help define whether these tumors are resectable. Radiation therapy or treatment with antiestrogens may be helpful in the treatment of unresectable tumors.