RESIDENT CASE STUDIES

Week 1 April 21-25, 2003: Case 2   

Table of Contents | List of Diagnoses | Case 1 | Case 2 | Case 3 

30-year-old female with abdominal mass, several weeks post partum 

Discussion 
Abdominal fibromatosis is commonly referred to as desmoid tumor. The tumor arises from the musculoaponeurotic structures of the abdominal wall. It typically occurs in adults, especially women of childbearing age who are pregnant or postpartum. The lesions are variably cellular and often predominantly hypocellular. The tumor has infiltrative margins, and is composed of uniform appearing, spindle-shaped fibroblasts and abundant collagen. There is lack of nuclear pleomorphism and only rare mitotic figures can be identified. Characteristically there is infiltration of the muscle tissue. There may be myxoid matrix. The recurrence rate is high. The tumor cells are positive for smooth muscle actin. Mason Trichrome highlights the collagenous background.

References:
-Verbal - William. J. Frable, MD 
- Weiss, S.W., Goldblum, J.R., Enzinger, F.M. (2001). Enzinger and Weiss's Soft Tissue Tumors (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Publishing.