CASE REPORT   

Chirurgia 2003 October-December;16(5-6):189-92

Copyright © 2003 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Acute abdomen secundary to intra-abdominal desmoid tumour. Case report

Vaiana R., Codignola C., Cascioli P., Tonti C., Prandini V., Morandi G.

Desmoid tumours originate from fibrocytes and myofibrocytes of abdominal musculoaponeurotic structures (mural and intra-abdominal), as well as of skin and subcutaneous tissue in several body regions. According to their histopathologic characteristics and their inability to metastasize, desmoid tumours are considered as benign neoplasms; nevertheless they show a clear trend towards local invasion, especially in the intra-abdominal space where desmoid tumours can grow in volume and appear as a diffuse retroperitoneal mesenteric fibromatosis which can be the cause of gastrointestinal, vascular and ureteral obstruction. The clinical pictures following intra-abdominal localisation of desmoid tumours can vary from alvus disturbances, which can evolve to intestinal obstruction, to angina abdominis, intestinal ischaemia and hydroureteronephrosis. The first clinical appearance as an acute abdomen due to stercorous generalized peritonitis caused by intestinal perforation, is rarely observed. A case of desmoid tumour, starting with a peritonitis clinical picture, is reported and compared with international literature findings.