Desmoid tumor history and symptoms

Desmoid tumor Microchapters
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Case #1

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Mohsin, M.D.[2]Faizan Sheraz, M.D. [3]

Overview

Depending on size, location and spread of tumor, patients may remain asymptomatic for long time period or may show symptoms like painless/painful lump appearning as a swelling in affected area, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, loss of sleep, pain or soreness caused by compressed nerves or muscles, limping and decreased movement or range of motion or other difficulty using the legs, feet, arms or hands or other affected part of the body. Intra-abdominal desmoids can present with abdominal pain, abdominal mass, constipation due to intestinal obstruction, bowel ischemia, functional deterioration in an ileoanal anastomosis (especially in post-colectomy FAP patient), bloating, rupture of intestine, compression of the kidneys or ureters, rectal bleeding, and compression of critical blood vessels such as the mesenteric vessels and the vena cava.

History and Symptoms

• Desmoid tumors may exist for a long time before being discovered, growing large and pushing aside surrounding tissue
• Hence, patients remain asymptomatic initially for a long time period
• Symptoms of demoid tumor vary greatly depending on following characteristics:
  • Size
  • Location
  • Spread of the tumor
• However, common symptoms include:
  • Deeply seated painless or minimally painful mass/lump appearing as a swelling in the affected area
  • Intraabdominal/pelvic desmoids can present with any of the following:
    • Abdominal mass
    • Abdominal pain (severe)
    • Intestinal obstruction (causing constipation and other associated symptoms)
    • Bowel ischemia
    • Functional deterioration in an ileoanal anastomosis (typically in a patient who has undergone colectomy for familial adenomatous polyposis [FAP])
    • Bloating
    • Rupture of intestines
    • Compression of the kidneys or ureters
    • Rectal bleeding
    • Compression of critical blood vessels such as the mesenteric vessels and the vena cava
  • Pain or soreness caused by compressed nerves or muscles
  • Limping or other difficulty using the legs, feet, arms or hands or other affected part of the body (decreased movement or range of motion)
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Breast mass (in case of breast desmoids)
  • Loss of sleep
  • Anxiety