Journal of Spine Practice

Published date: Nov 15 2025

Journal Title: Journal of Spine Practice

Issue title: Journal of Spine Practice (JSP): Volume 5, Issue 1

Pages: 46 - 58

DOI: 10.18502/jsp.v5i1.18394

Nikhil Dholarianikhildholaria10@arizona.eduDepartment of Neurosurgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ

Ali A. BaajDepartment of Neurosurgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ

Chetan GujrathiDepartment of Otolaryngology, Arizona Otolaryngology Consultants, Phoenix, AZ

Purpose
Desmoid-type fibromatosis is a rare, aggressive tumor of mesenchymal origin that mimics malignancy. Though non-metastasizing, desmoid tumors exhibit local invasion and tissue destruction with high rates of recurrence, leading to severe morbidity. However, there is no standard approach for management. Hence, we present the case of a 69-year-old male with cervicothoracic desmoid-type fibromatosis and conduct a systematic review to analyze the risk factors, treatment modalities, and recurrence.

Methods
An extensive chart review of the patient was conducted, with special attention to contributing risk factors and follow-up examinations. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, SCOPUS, and Embase with the terms ((vertebral) OR (spine)) AND (desmoid fibromatosis). Publications with desmoid-type fibromatosis at the cervical or cervicothoracic spine were included. A manual reference search was conducted to include all relevant publications.

Results
Our patient’s tumor extended from the right anterolateral C3 to the T1 level, with C5-C7 vertebral infiltration. The patient underwent a radical neck dissection, hemithyroidectomy, and hemisternotomy for tumor resection. No spinal intervention or adjuvant medical therapy was utilized. His postoperative course was complicated by right vertebral artery occlusion and transient right-sided Horner syndrome. He was discharged on postoperative day 5 with no subsequent tumor recurrence or complications. Our systematic review resulted in 21 studies with 24 patients (8 males, 16 females) at an average age of 39.98±17.23 years. The most common treatment modality was resection (n=17, 70.83%). Five patients (20.83%) had concomitant spinal decompression with or without fusion. Recurrence occurred in three patients (12.5%), at an average of 7±5.57 months after initial intervention.

Conclusion
In our case report and systematic review, we found that resection is the most common treatment modality for paraspinal desmoid-type fibromatosis confined to the cervical or cervicothoracic spine, with minimal rates of recurrence. Depending on tumor localization and invasion, concomitant spinal intervention may not be necessary.

Keywords: desmoid-type fibromatosis, desmoid tumor, aggressive fibromatosis, paraspinal, cervical, cervicothoracic

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