Unusual soft tissue tumours of the abdominal wall

ABSTRACT

To highlight the importance of remembering unusual tumours in the differential diagnosis of Soft Tissue Tumours of the Abdominal wall. Retrospective, decriptive study conducted between June 2000 to June 2003. Hamdard University Hospital and other private hospitals in Karachi. All patients presenting with Unusual Soft Tissue tumours of the Abdominal wall. The biodata, symptoms and signs of these patients were recorded and analyzed. They were extensively investigated; besides routine investigations Ultrasound, CT Scan and MRI were done where indicated. All the tumors were surgically excised and the diagnosis was confirmed on histopathology and immunohistochemical studies. Ten patients, six females and four males, aged 16-59 years, were seen with Unusual Soft tissue Tumours of the Abdominal Wall. Most of them [90%] presented with a swelling, while some had pain [30%] and fever [10%].Surgical excision and histopathology revealed them as desmoid tumour [n-6], rhabdomyosarcoma [n-2], urachal remnant tumour [n-1] and port-site metastatic tumour [n-1]. There was no recurrence in all the patients, except the one with urachal remanant. He died inspite of further excision, radio and chemotherapy. Abdominal wall tumours are rare. They may be innocent like the lipoma, or may show variable behavior like the desmoid tumour, or may be very aggressive like the rhabdomyosarcoma. They need proper clinical workup before embarking upon surgery, which should be wide surgical excision as they show aggressive infiltration in the surrounding tissues. They also require proper follow-up as they are famous for recurrence