Dual-phase contrast-enhanced multislice computed tomography scans play a key role in the diagnosis of abdominal wall desmoid-type fibromatoses

Abdominal wall desmoid-type fibromatoses (AWDF) are occasionally encountered in clinical work, but related CT reports are rare, and most cases were misdiagnosed as malignant tumors.

We aimed to determine the diagnostic value of multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in relation to the clinical diagnosis of AWDF.

The medical records of 14 patients whose pathology results provided initial confirmation of AWDF were reviewed, and data describing their clinical characteristics, tumors’ MSCT characteristics, and the condition of the surrounding tissues were analyzed and summarized retrospectively. Intraobserver and interobserver reproducibilities were evaluated.

AWDF tended to occur in women of childbearing age (24–32 years). They occurred more frequently during the first year following pregnancy. The mean disease duration was 5.64 ± 3.78 months. All isolated tumors were growing along the musculoaponeurotic layer, and their maximum diameters were between 32 and 76 mm. Tumors’ capsules were incomplete, and although the tumors infiltrated the surrounding muscles, the surrounding fat tissue and vessels were not infiltrated. None of the patients’ tumors showed cystic degeneration, calcification, necrosis, or peritumoral edema. The tumors had slightly lower densities on the pre-contrast enhancement scans and mild-to-moderate enhancement after contrast enhancement. All tumors contained ribbon-like structures, and approximately 65% of the tumors encircled vascular structures.

Dual-phase contrast-enhanced MSCT scans were associated with a high level of diagnostic efficacy for AWDF. The abdominal wall masses grew along the musculoaponeurotic layer, which, together with the ribbon-like structures within the tumors, should prompt clinicians to consider the presence of AWDF.