desmoid tumor
Meaning of desmoid tumor: Because a desmoid tumor tends to grow into nearby structures locally, complete surgical removal can be difficult even though it rarely spreads elsewhere.
Definition of desmoid tumor
A desmoid tumor is a growth that arises from connective tissue, most often the tough, fibrous tissue surrounding muscles called fascia. It can develop in various locations throughout the body, including the abdominal wall, within the abdomen itself, and in the limbs, trunk, or other areas outside the abdomen, where it is sometimes called aggressive fibromatosis.
Although a desmoid tumor does not spread to distant parts of the body the way cancer does, it can grow locally into surrounding tissue, including muscle, nerves, and blood vessels, which can make complete surgical removal difficult and allows the tumor to recur even after removal.
Desmoid tumors are associated with certain inherited conditions, including familial adenomatous polyposis, and can also arise following surgery or injury to an area, or occur without any clearly identified trigger, and their behavior can range from slow growing and stable to more rapidly enlarging.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
Imaging identified a desmoid tumor within the abdominal wall following the patient's prior abdominal surgery.
Good to know
A desmoid tumor does not metastasize to distant organs the way cancer does, but its tendency to grow locally into surrounding muscle, nerve, and blood vessel tissue can make it difficult to remove completely.
Word origin
Where “desmoid tumor” comes from
Formed from Greek desmos, meaning band or ligament, combined with the suffix -oid, meaning resembling.