Extra-abdominal aggressive fibromatosis after treatment of a Morbus Hodgkin. A case report.
The proliferations of the connective tissue, which are summed up under the term fibromatoses, assume a special position with regard to their biologic behavior. While superficial fibromatoses are more likely to grow slowly, musculoaponeurotic fibromatoses (Desmoid tumor)--like malignant tumors--show a locally bound aggressive, rapid growth behavior. A metastazation, however, can never be proved. The research on etiology of fibromatoses has yielded only little knowledge. Besides genetic and hormonal factors, physical reasons are under discussion, too. The present study aims to add another description of a case report to the small number of case presentations on radiotherapy-associated fibromatosis. In 1977, a now 67-old-patient was irradiated because of a Morbus Hodgkin lymphoma in the left side of his neck. Prior to the radiation, the patient had undergone several surgeries. 17 years after the radiation, the patient developed an aggressive fibromatosis (prelaryngeal, right) in the formerly irradiated region. As the localization of the fibromatosis does not allow us to establish a connection to his numerous operations preceding the fibromatosis, a radiation-associated Desmoid tumor must be assumed. Immunohistologically, no estrogen receptors were detectable.