Asian Journal of Research in Surgery

Desmoid tumors of the colon are exceptionally rare and represent an aggressive form of intra-abdominal desmoid tumors. The sigmoid colon mesentery, while generally associated with lower morbidity, can be affected by these tumors. The etiology of mesenteric desmoid tumors includes factors such as trauma, surgery, hormonal influences, and hereditary conditions like familial adenomatous polyposis coli and Gardner’s syndrome. Intra-abdominal desmoid tumors are most commonly located in the mesentery in about 80% of cases.

Solitary desmoid tumors in the sigmoid colon mesentery are typically benign and have a favourable prognosis. These tumors are characterized by mesenteric fibroblastic growth, which can occur spontaneously or as a result of surgical trauma. Mesenteric desmoids most frequently develop in the intestinal mesentery, followed by the omentum and mesocolon.

These tumors more commonly originate from the left side of the colon and the sigmoid colon, accounting for 60-70% of cases. They are usually diagnosed using simple ultrasonography and CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis. Complete surgical excision is the preferred treatment.

We report a case of a giant desmoid tumor of the sigmoid colon mesentery in a 37-year-old male patient, diagnosed via CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis. The patient presented with a painless large mass in the pelvis, arising from the mesentery of the sigmoid colon, and was planned for open surgery.