Gas-containing mesenteric desmoid-type fibromatosis: A case report.

RATIONALE

Desmoid-type fibromatosis is a rare benign mesenchymal neoplasm. Only 8% of desmoid-type fibromatosis develops in the abdominal cavity. The mesentery is seldom affected and gastrointestinal stromal tumors need to be considered in the differential diagnosis, particularly when imaging examination shows a tumor containing gases in the abdominal cavity. Only a few cases of gas-containing mesenteric desmoid-type fibromatosis have been reported in the literature.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 69-year-old male patient presented with hematochezia and intermittent upper abdominal pain.

DIAGNOSIS

Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a 3.9 × 3.6 cm gas-containing mass infiltrating the third portion of the duodenum. The tumor was heterogeneous, with cysts and air bubbles. It showed heterogeneous weak-to-mild enhancement in the solid part. Postoperative pathological examination confirmed a final diagnosis of mesenteric desmoid-type fibromatosis.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient underwent surgical resection of intra-abdominal lesion.

OUTCOMES

No evidence of local recurrence was noted during the 6 months of follow-up.

LESSONS

Accurate preoperative diagnosis is difficult for an intra-abdominal gas-containing mass on computed tomography scan. The appearance of spiculated infiltrative margin suggests the diagnosis of desmoid-type fibromatosis. Further investigation of imaging evidence and treatment methods is necessary.