What is fibromatosis and what are the symptoms?

Fibromatosis often surrounds the ducts and lobules of the breast, forming a lump that can be felt through the skin. You also may notice an indent or dimpling of the breast skin or the area may appear to be stuck to the underlying muscle.

What does a desmoid tumor feel like?

Symptoms may include: Soreness or pain caused by the tumor pressing on nearby nerves, muscles, or blood vessels. Tingling or a feeling of “pins and needles,” when the tumor presses on local nerves or blood vessels. Limping or other difficulties moving the legs or feet.

Can desmoid tumors cause pain?

The most common symptom of a desmoid tumor is a relatively firm mass or lump, which often causes mild pain. Other symptoms include: rectal bleeding and severe abdominal pain, when a desmoid tumor in the abdomen places pressure on the intestines.

How often do desmoid tumors come back?

Desmoid tumors often recur, or come back, at or near the original tumor site after surgery. Reported recurrence rates after surgery vary widely, from approximately 20% to as high as 80%. It is important to remember that statistics for people with a desmoid tumor are an estimate.

How do you get fibromatosis?

The cause of fibromatosis remains unclear. In some types of fibromatosis such as desmoid tumours, it is thought that the condition may be related to trauma, hormonal factors, or have a genetic association.

Do desmoid tumors go away on their own?

Abdominal desmoid tumors may interfere with organ function and cause internal bleeding. In very rare instances, desmoid tumors can be life-limiting. Desmoid tumors are also unpredictable. While some grow rapidly, others may shrink and go away on their own.

What are the symptoms of desmoid tumors?

Some people with desmoid tumors have symptoms, while others do not. Symptoms can include pain, swelling in the area of the tumor, sleep loss, or difficulty moving. For people without symptoms, these tumors can be discovered if the person has an imaging test for another reason.

What is a desmoid tumor biopsy?

Biopsy: A small sample or the entire tumor is removed, and the cells are looked at under a microscope to confirm that it’s a desmoid tumor. Wait and watch: Some tumors don’t grow, and some even get smaller on their own. If they’re small and outside your belly — and aren’t causing symptoms — your doctor may take this approach.

What are the risk factors for desmoid tumors?

There are different factors associated with the development of desmoid tumors. Higher incidences during and after pregnancy and following exposure to oral contraceptives and reports of spontaneous tumor regression during menopause underline the potential influence of the female sex hormonal environment.

What are the treatment options for desmoid tumors?

Chemotherapy: There is no standard chemotherapy for desmoid tumors but promising new drugs have been shown to shrink these tumors. It is important to discuss these different options with your doctor and seek second opinions, if possible. Do desmoid tumors run in families? In 5% to 10% of cases, desmoid tumors may run in families.