Treatment of submandibular fibromatosis with chemotherapy and surgery. A case report

• Published in: Minerva stomatologica Vol. 57; no. 3; p. 133
• Main Authors: Otmani, N, Lamalmi, N, Khattab, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy 01-03-2008
• Subjects: Child, Preschool; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Fibroma - drug therapy; Fibroma - surgery; Humans; Mandibular Neoplasms - drug therapy; Mandibular Neoplasms - surgery
• ISSN: 0026-4970

Fibromatoses are a broad group of fibrous tissue proliferation that arise from the musculoaponeurotic structures. Because of the locally aggressive behaviour and the high recurrence rate of these tumors, various treatment options are suggested but there is still no optimal therapy for these diseases. This paper describes a case of infantile fibromatosis of the submandibular region, which was successfully treated with an interdisciplinary approach using chemotherapy and surgery. A three-year-old girl with a growing submandibular mass over a period of six months is described. The tumor was clinically aggressive, causing bone erosion and invading adjacent soft tissue structures. The diagnosis of infantile fibromatosis was established on histological and immunohistochemical findings. With a combined treatment based on ''low-dose'' chemotherapy including vinblastine and methotrexate and surgery; complete remission was achieved in 30 months. Management of head and neck fibromatoses in child-hood needs a specific approach. Combined treatment by chemotherapy and nonmutilating surgery seems to offer the best potential for cure.