Desmoid tumor occurrence following gastric cancer surgery: A report of two cases

While rare, desmoid tumors can develop after abdominal surgery and are difficult to differentiate from recurrent tumors following cancer resection. In this report, we describe two cases of desmoid tumors that occurred following gastric cancer procedures and were successfully treated with surgical resection. In Case 1, a 77-year-old woman underwent open distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer followed by Roux-en-Y reconstruction. The pathological diagnosis was stage IIB T3N1M0 disease. Four years postsurgically, computed tomography (CT) revealed a 2.4 cm tumor lesion in the upper abdomen. Desmoid tumor was the most suspected tumor, for which a resection with partial resection of the jejunum was performed. In case 2, a 60-year-old man underwent open distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer and Billroth I reconstruction; the pathological diagnosis was T1aN0M0 stage IA. Two years later, CT revealed a 4.0 cm tumor lesion in the upper abdomen. As in Case 1, desmoid tumor was most suspected, a tumor resection with partial resection of the jejunum was performed. Based on the pathological findings, the tumors were diagnosed as desmoid tumor. There had been no recurrence of either gastric cancer or the desmoid tumor in both cases. Although active surveillance has been recommended for desmoid tumors recently, surgical resection is appropriate when recurrence cannot be ruled out. Desmoid tumors should be included in the differential diagnosis when intra-abdominal tumors occur after surgery for gastric cancer. Complete resection with adequate margins can prevent desmoid recurrence. •While rare, desmoid tumors can develop after gastric cancer surgery•Wnt/ β-catenin pathway plays an important role in desmoid formation after surgery.•Recently, active surveillance has been recommended for desmoid tumors.•Surgical resection is appropriate when recurrence cannot be ruled out.•Complete resection with adequate margins can prevent desmoid recurrence.