Desmoid tumor of the neck: CT and angiographic findings.

The term desmoid tumor (Greek desmos = band) was coined to designate tumors of a tendonor ligamentlike consistency. They are derived from musculoaponeurotic supporting tissues and are histologically benign fibroblastic tumors. These rare lesions constitute only 0.03% of all neoplasms. Because of their predilection for the anterior abdominal wall , desmoid tumors have been categorically linked with "abdominal wall tumors" [1 , 2]. Nevertheless, they are known to occur in virtually all parts of the body . In 1856, Paget [3] reported a patient with this tumor in the arm , and , in 1923, Nichols [4] reported six patients with extraabdominal desmoid tumors. It was estimated that about two-thirds of them occurred in the abdominal walls [2] . Das Gupta et al. [5] reported a series of 72 extraabdominal desmoid tumors occupying the following areas in order of decreasing frequency: arms, legs, trunk, head and neck, and other. Only three patients in their series were reported to have desmoid tumors of the neck. Radiologic description of these tumors has been lacking. Sacks et al. [6J , in their presentation of two mesenteric desmoid tumors, showed lack of neovascularity in this lesion. Baron and Lee [7] emphasized sonographic and computed tomographic (CT) features in two patients with mesenteric desmoid tumors. We report one case of desmoid tumor in the neck with emphasis on the CT and angiographic appearance.