The use of intraoperative radiotherapy and external beam therapy in the management of desmoid tumors.

Desmoid tumors are rare nonencapsulated benign lesions that invade the musculoaponeurotic tissues of the body. Such tumors infiltrate insidiously, and attempts to remove them frequently fail, usually leaving residual tumor. The use of adjuvant radiotherapy to decrease the recurrence rate in partially resected extra-abdominal desmoids has been reported by several authors. The role of irradiation in the management of desmoid tumors is illustrated in a case that combined surgery, intraoperative radiotherapy, and postoperative external beam radiotherapy in the management of this lesion.