Abstract
We describe two cases with multiple intra-abdominal desmoid tumors (DT) which were successfully controlled by low-dose combination chemotherapy using methotrexate (MTX) and vinblastine (VBL). The first patient, a 26-year-old female, was diagnosed with DT involving both the abdominal wall and the ileal pouch which developed after total proctocolectomy for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). We administered conservative therapy with MTX and VBL biweekly for 12 months to prevent an ileal pouch excision. The DT was successfully treated without significant side effects or pouch sacrifice. The second patient, a 25-year-old female with FAP, also had the complication of mesenteric DTs, and was treated with MTX and VBL chemotherapy for 10 months. The DTs were successfully controlled and did not increase in size. DTs arising from mesenteric desmoids involving the ileal pouch were successfully controlled with outpatient chemotherapy using MTX and VBL, which was well-tolerated with few adverse effects, such as myelotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity.
