Open AccessThe challenging management of a giant intrathoracic desmoid tumour: a case report
Author(s) -
Christos Kakos,
Savvas Lampridis,
Georgios Geropoulos,
Reena Khiroya,
Achilleas Antonopoulos,
Sofoklis Mitsos,
Νικόλαος Παναγιωτόπουλος
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
monaldi archives for chest disease. pulmonary series/monaldi archives for chest disease/monaldi archives for chest disease. cardiac series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2465-101X
pISSN - 1122-0643
DOI - 10.4081/monaldi.2021.1702
Subject(s) - medicine , radiation therapy , radiology , adjuvant radiotherapy , surgery , resection , lung
Desmoid tumours are rare, locally aggressive neoplasms exhibiting high tendency for recurrence, even after complete resection. Only 1 in 5 of them originates from the chest wall, usually measuring less than 10 cm at diagnosis. Herein, we report the case of a woman presenting with symptoms of gradual lung compression by a giant desmoid tumour occupying the entire hemithorax. She underwent complete surgical resection of the tumour and chest wall reconstruction. She had disease recurrence 15 months later and currently remains under regular follow-up. The management of intrathoracic desmoid tumours is challenging because they are usually not diagnosed until they become large enough to cause compression symptoms. While medical management is the primary modality of treatment, surgery could be considered in selected cases where significant symptoms arise, and the functional status is impaired secondary to the tumour. Adjuvant radiotherapy to minimise the risk of local recurrence should also be considered.