PMC3618027_01
Histological aspects of a desmoid tumor are shown. Histologic appearance of the core needle biopsy (HE staining, original magnification, x100): spindle-shaped non-atypical cells in a collagen-rich stroma. Bottom right corner: nuclear beta-catenin immunoreactivity by tumor cells (x200).
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F1
Pathological analysis (fig. 1) revealed a poorly cellular proliferation of non-atypical myofibroblastic spindle cells, without histological evidence of malignancy (neither mitosis nor necrosis).
CT scan showing the dramatic tumor response to chemotherapy. Abdomino-pelvic CT scan in transversal (a-c) and coronal (d-f) planes showing the tumor size evolution during and after doxorubicin-dacarbazine chemotherapy: before chemotherapy (a, d), after 6 cycles (b, e), and 25 months after the last cycle (c, f).
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F2
After a 3-month treatment, the CT scan showed tumor progression, with a mass measuring 250 x 132 x 322 mm, occupying substantially the entire abdominal cavity (fig. 2a-d). CT scan showed further tumor regression (229 x 95 x 217 mm; fig. 2b-e), representing a regression of the tumor volume by 56% when compared to baseline. Chemotherapy was discontinued, and follow-up started. On CT scan, the tumor regression continued: the tumor measured 95 x 67 x 73 mm in December 2011 (12 months after the last CT cycle), and 49 x 38 x 30 mm in February 2013 during the last follow-up (25 months after the last cycle; fig. 2c-f), corresponding to a regression of the tumor volume by 95% when compared to the start of CT and by 90% when compared to the end of CT.