Five years of local control of subscapularis aggressive fibromatosis managed by surgery and imatinib: a case report

• Published in: Journal of medical case reports 2014-12, Vol.8 (1), p.416-416, Article 416
• Main Authors: Dao, Abou, Benchakroun, Nadia, Jabir, Hamza, Taleb, Amina, Bouchbika, Zineb, Tawfiq, Nezha, Jouhadi, Hassan, Sahraoui, Souha, Benider, Abdellatif
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Benzamides - therapeutic use; Case Report; Case studies; Fibromatosis, Aggressive - therapy; Health aspects; Humans; Imatinib Mesylate; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Muscle Neoplasms - therapy; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - therapy; Piperazines - therapeutic use; Pyrimidines - therapeutic use; Rotator Cuff - surgery; Tyrosine
• ISSN: 1752-1947; 1752-1947
• DOI: 10.1186/1752-1947-8-416

Imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is a major therapeutic option for the management of unresectable aggressive fibromatosis. Unfortunately, for most patients of low or very low average income countries, surgery often is the first treatment option. This is related to unavailability of chemotherapy or targeted therapy, and to a lack of financial resources or surgeons' lack of knowledge of other therapeutic options. In 2010, a 26-year-old Moroccan man was referred to our oncology and radiotherapy center by his surgeon for the management of a recurrent tumor of his right subscapularis muscle. Before his assessment in our center, two resections were performed by his surgeon after performing an incision biopsy and magnetic resonance imaging. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging was performed and showed a right axillary nodule size 2.1cm regarding a collection with a residual tumor. We decided to administer imatinib 400mg daily by mouth. Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging evaluation were performed regularly and reported a stable tumor. We reported no adverse side effects to imatinib regarding Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grading. Recurrences are high during aggressive fibromatosis management. Systemic treatment with imatinib for unresectable or recurrent tumors with positive c-KIT could be the best therapeutic option. In our case report, the patient was stabilized with imatinib for 30 months and he had a very good quality of life.