A surgical case of aggressive fibromatosis

A case of "aggressive fibromatosis" which appeared in posterior mediastinum is reported. A 50-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with right shoulder pain. The tumor surrounded the right vertebral artery and infiltrated into the right sympathetic nerve, brachial plexus and muscle tissue. It was suspected of neurogenic tumor by percutaneous needle biopsy. Removal of the tumor and partial resection of the invaded vertebral artery and brachial plexus were made in Aug. 10, 1996. In postoperative examination, the tumor was 6.2 x 6.5 x 4.5 cm in size and diagnosed pathologically as "aggressive fibromatosis". Postoperative course was uneventful, but Horner's symptoms and motor disturbances of IV, V, fingers of the right hand were slightly occurred. Radiotherapy of 60 Gy was done after operation. There is no recurrence to date 17 months after surgery. As for the character of this disease, it seldom metastasizes, but grows infiltratively and the recurrence after operation is an important problem. In particular, the neck and the head are important because surgical margin is not provided enough, anatomically. Therefore, chemotherapy or radiotherapy after operation is needed. In this case, radiotherapy was done after operation. So, there is not the recurrence and passes to date 17 months after surgery. But, follow-up of long terms is necessary because it may recur after postoperative therapies.