Background/Aims: Although the standard treatment for desmoid tumours is complete surgical resection with wide margins, the optimal adjuvant treatment for recurrent or inoperable disease is unclear, often being based on sporadic immunohistochemical reports with a low number of cases. Therefore, a large immunohistochemical study was performed, to provide a theoretical basis for adjuvant treatment regimens. Methods: One hundred and sixteen tissue samples from 80 patients (49 female, 31 male; mean age, 34 years; range, 0-83) with desmoid tumours (46 extra-abdominal, 21 abdominal, 13 intra-abdominal) were tested for oestrogen receptors a and b, progesterone and androgen receptors, and somatostatin, in addition to HER2, cathepsin D, Ki-67, and c-KIT by immunohistochemistry. Results: All samples were negative for oestrogen receptor a, HER2, and the progesterone receptor. Positive staining for the androgen receptor was found in six extra-abdominal cases. Staining for oestrogen receptor b was positive in four extra-abdominal, two abdominal, and one intra-abdominal case. Staining for somatostatin was positive in six extra-abdominal, two abdominal, and one intra-abdominal case, and staining for cathepsin D was positive in all cases. Positive staining for Ki-67 was found in 14 extraabdominal, three abdominal, and three intra-abdominal cases. C-KIT was detectable in one abdominal case only. Conclusions: The data from this immunohistochemical study show that the published effects of antioestrogens and imatinib mesylate in the treatment of aggressive fibromatoses may not be attributable to oestrogen receptor a or c-KIT expression.

The data of this review underline the strategy of a wide or radical local excision as the treatment of choice. Furthermore, as a large number of studies had to be excluded from this analysis, exact microscopic surgical margin status should be provided in future studies in order to allow comparability. .

Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia is most common in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. Nevertheless, there are some reports of acute bowel ischemia in young patients with a history of recreational drug abuse. We describe the case of a 33-year-old patient who presented with acute abdominal pain following amphetamine consumption. Multidetector computed tomography showed nonocclusive segmental ischemia of the distal ileum, and the patient underwent emergency surgery with ileocecal resection. The patient recovered quickly and was discharged without any postoperative complications. An early and precise diagnosis of patients with intestinal ischemia having a history of amphetamine abuse is of utmost importance for prompt and proper treatment. Especially in younger patients, multidetector computed tomography should be tailored to use with less radiation. A single portal venous scan proved sufficient in our case.