Fibromatosis of Infancy and Childhood

Abstract

Fifty-nine cases of fibromatosis in children were investigated. To our knowledge, this is the largest serie with clinicopathologic datas reported so far in German literature. The most frequent type was infantile (desmoid-type) fibromatosis. More than 50% of the tumours developed in the first five years of life. The overall male-to-female ratio was 1.36:1. The lower extremities were the most frequent site of manifestation. Vimentin could be demonstrated in the tumour cells by immunohistochemical methods. Positive staining for dipeptidylaminopeptidase (DAP) IV suggested a myofibroblastic nature of some of the neoplastic cells. These results were supported by ultrastructural examination. Two cases demonstrated the unpredictable biological behaviour of fibromatosis. It is emphasized that clinical behaviour depends on number, size, location and histologic appearance of the lesions as well as age of the patient.

Infantile fibromatosis of the sternocleidomastoid muscle mimicking muscular torticollis

“…Fibromatoses are considered in the benign part of fibrous tumors and are classified into infantile fibromatosis (IF), fibromatosis colli, aggressive fibromatosis, fibrous hamartoma of infancy, infantile digital fibromatosis, myofibroma, juvenile hyaline fibromatosis, juvenile angiofibroma, Dupuytren's fibromatosis, and juvenile aponeurotic fibroma. [1][2][3] Herein, we report on an infant presenting with a sternocleidomastoid (SCM) tumor, which had been diagnosed initially as fibromatosis colli or olive of muscular torticollis, but later proved to be a desmoid type IF of the SCM muscle.…”