A case of mesenteric desmoid tumor of the small intestine

Abstract

We report herein a case of mesenteric desmoid tumor of the small intestine. A 69-year-old man was being followed in our hospital for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypertension. Because a blood test showed hypoalbuminemia and tumor marker elevation, abdominal CT was performed and a 20 cm in diameter tumor was detected. Although the tumor compressed the intestines, there was no apparent invasion of the intestinal tissue even on colonic enema. Tumor blood supply from a superior mesenteric artery was demonstrated on angiography. The origin was unknown, but surgery was performed under a presumptive diagnosis of intraabdominal tumor. The tumor was located in the mesentery 110cm from Treitz' ligament, and there was no adhesion around the circumference of the lesion. We resected the tumor along with the mesenterium and small intestine. The resected specimen showed a yellowish white solid tumor measuring 18×15×9cm, and weighing 1,400g. Pathologic examination showed loose growth of spindle-shaped cells with abundant fibrous stroma and hyalinization. Based on these findings, we established a diagnosis of the mesenteric desmoid tumor of the small intestine. The patient has been followed postoperatively for five years and there has been no sign of recurrence, to date.