Intraabdominal abscess formation as a first presentation of desmoid tumor

Desmoid tumors are benign fibrous tumors, which develop usually in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and infrequently as sporadic cases. They present rather rarely as intra-abdominal abscesses communicating with the bowel. The case is reported of a 32 year-old woman, with unremarkable previous medical history, who was admitted with high fever and left upper quadrant pain of five days' duration. Chest X-ray revealed elevation of the left hemidiaphragm, and abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography showed an intraabdominal abscess, which was treated with percutaneous drainage. She was discharged in good condition, but the abscess relapsed a few days later and a fistulous communication with the large bowel was shown radiographically. Colonoscopy was normal. The patient underwent laparotomy with left hemicolectomy and the histologic examination revealed a desmoid tumor. In conclusion, desmoid tumors may present as intra-abdominal abscesses even in the absence of a familial adenomatous polyposis