Desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF) is a rare type of soft tissue tumour.
It’s also sometimes referred to as a desmoid tumour, or aggressive fibromatosis.
Patients are treated by sarcoma specialist oncologists who have the skills and experience to treat them.
DF is what is called an intermediate tumour. Intermediate tumours sit somewhere between non-cancerous and cancerous tumours. These types of tumours have the capacity to come back at or near the original tumour, but they do not spread.
The main symptom of DF is a lump, most commonly found on the arms, legs or abdomen. It can also develop in the head and neck area.
DF is rare. In every million people, around 5-6 could be expected to develop DF.
It is difficult to predict how DF will develop. Sometimes they can be slow growing and they have also been known to get smaller without any treatment.
Signs and symptoms
People with DF that is not related to having FAP may discover a lump and visit their GP who will refer them to a specialist doctor. A specialist will do:
- A clinical examination – looking at and feeling the lump
- A scan – taking pictures of the inside of the body using ultrasound, CT or MRI
- A core needle biopsy – taking or testing a tissue sample. Core needle biopsies use a core (meaning hollow) needle to remove the tissue. This is usually done under local anaesthetic
A biopsy of DF should be done by a specialist sarcoma team who has expertise in diagnosing and treating DF. A diagnosis of DF should be confirmed by a specialist soft tissue pathologist.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will examine you. You may have one or more of these tests:
- Ultrasound – A scan that uses soundwaves to create images from within the body
- CT scan – The Computer Tomography (CT) scan takes a number of x-rays to make a 3D image of an affected area
- MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses magnets to create an image of the tissues inside the body. This is the most common scan used to diagnose DF.
To read more about scans and tests, click here.
Treatment
Treatment for DF depends on the area of the body that is affected, the size of the tumour and how fast it is growing. You may receive any of the following treatments depending on your specific circumstances.
Active surveillance is usually the first approach to treat people who are newly diagnosed with DF. This is sometimes known as a ‘watch and wait’ policy, ‘active monitoring’ or ‘active observation’.
Active Surveillance ensures effective treatment can be held in reserve for if you need it. You will be regularly monitored to ensure treatment is given at the earliest appropriate time.
People diagnosed with DF are usually on active surveillance for 1-2 years. You may be on active surveillance for a shorter or longer time depending on your individual circumstances. If your condition stabilises or regresses, active surveillance will continue. If your condition progresses, then other treatment options will be considered for you.
If you are on active surveillance, you may be worried that your DF is not being treated immediately. However, there are advantages to active surveillance:
- Treatment options for DF come with side effects. Although these treatments can be very helpful, it is important to use them only if you are having symptoms that affect your quality of life or your tumour has grown greatly
- Some treatments cannot be given more than once, for example, radiotherapy. Radiotherapy can be helpful to improve your symptoms but it may not shrink the tumour
- It is possible that having repeated surgery may cause the tumour to be more aggressive in its recurrence and growth
Further treatment
Surgery
It is sometimes possible for your surgeon to remove the tumour. Sometimes after surgery for DF, the part of the body where the tumour was removed does not work properly or you are left with cosmetic changes to your physical appearance. Surgery also does not guarantee the tumour will not return. This is why, for most DF patients, surgery is not routinely offered or will only be offered after a period of active surveillance and after their case has been reviewed by an MDT.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to destroy tumour cells. Chemotherapy can help switch off the tumour and make it dormant. This may help with symptoms such as pain. The tumour may get smaller with chemotherapy treatment or stop growing. Chemotherapy can cause side effects so the decision to use it needs to be balanced with how your symptoms are affecting you and how the tumour is growing.
The decision to use chemotherapy is on a case by case basis. It is more likely to be used if your DF is progressing quickly and if your symptoms cannot be managed another way.
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) are a newer type of treatment called a targeted therapy. They work by blocking growth signals inside the tumour cells. The main drugs used to treat DF this way are called sorafenib, pazopanib and imatinib.
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be used to treat DF. They have an impact on the nature of the tumour and can reduce any pain or swelling you may be experiencing.
Hormone treatment
Hormones are substances produced naturally in the body that control the activity of cells and organs. Hormonal therapies use drugs to interfere with the way hormones are made or how they work in the body. Tamoxifen is an anti-estrogen drug used to treat breast cancer. It has been found to work in treated DF either using this drug alone or alongside nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is commonly used as the first medical treatment for DF, particularly if the DF is in the abdominal wall.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy uses high-energy radiation beams to destroy tumour cells. It can be used after surgery or as a treatment on its own. It is used to improve symptoms and to try and get the tumour to switch itself off and get smaller. DF patients are usually fit and healthy and radiotherapy can have significant long term side effects, so the decision to use radiotherapy needs to be balanced with how significant the symptoms are. It is rarely used to treat children and younger adults.
Isolated Limb Perfusion
Isolated Limb Perfusion (ILP) is a treatment where chemotherapy drugs are given directly into an arm or leg to treat a tumour. It is used as an alternative to surgery to treat DF in the arm or leg where surgery will cause damage to the arm or leg or make it not work properly. Not all specialist centres offer this treatment. If ILP is considered appropriate for your case, you might need to be referred to a specialist centre with expertise in this procedure.
Cryoablation
Cryoablation is increasingly being used to treat DF. It uses extreme cold to freeze the tumour. A needle called a cyroprobe is put through your skin directly into the tumour. A gas is then pumped through the cyroprobe to freeze the tumour. It can be used to treat tumours that are small and easy to get to through the skin.
After treatment
After any treatment you receive, you will have regular follow up appointments. These appointments are to check your health and to check the site of your DF. They are also a good opportunity to talk to your doctor or nurse about any concerns you may have. At a follow up appointment you will usually have:
- A chance to discuss symptoms
- A physical examination to look for any signs of your DF returning
- You may have a scan such an ultrasound or MRI
Living with
Sometimes DF can come back after it is first treated. This is called a recurrence.
Sometimes your DF can be stable for a long time and then start growing again.
If you do have a recurrence or your DF starts growing again, your doctors will discuss your care in an MDT meeting and consider the best treatment options for you.
DF and pregnancy
During pregnancy, the rate of growth of the DF may change, sometimes the tumour can grow and then may settle down after pregnancy. Any changes with your tumour can be safely managed and less than half of pregnant women with DF need treatment to manage these changes. DF does not increase the risk of anything going wrong during pregnancy but if you are concerned speak to your doctor or clinical nurse specialist who should be able to reassure you. If you are considering getting pregnant please speak to your specialist doctor or clinical nurse specialist first.
Drugs containing estrogen
If you’re thinking of taking drugs which contain estrogen, such as oral contraception and those to treat menopausal symptoms, it’s worth letting your sarcoma team know as this could affect your DF.
Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) and Gardner Syndrome
There is a small number of people (5-10%) with DF who have a condition called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and Gardner Syndrome. This is a rare condition that can run in families. People affected by FAP may be diagnosed with DF following routine tests and scans to investigate the progression of their condition, such as a colonoscopy. Usually, their DF will be in the abdomen and treatment will be different to those who do not have FAP.
If you have any questions or if you need to talk to someone, our Support Line team are here for you.
