Usefulness of surgical treatment for asymptomatic patients with extra-peritoneal desmoid-type fibromatosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this systematic review is to assess and compare the efficacy of surgical treatment for patients with asymptomatic extra-peritoneal desmoid-type fibromatosis to the wait-and-see policy by evaluating (1) the exacerbation rate (exacerbation; recurrence after surgery or progressive disease following non-surgical treatment) and (2) treatment-associated complications in extra-peritoneal desmoid-type fibromatosis.

METHODS

We evaluated documents published between 1 January 1990 and 31 August 2017. The risk of bias in the selected literature was analyzed using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool. Quality of evidence was evaluated using Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.

RESULTS

One prospective cohort study, four case-control studies and five case series studies were identified. Meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the exacerbation rate after treatment on one prospective cohort study and four case-control studies. In comparing surgical and non-surgical treatments, the exacerbation rate was significantly higher in the surgical treatment group (odds ratio: 1.32, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.73, P = 0.05). However, in the case series study, the recurrence rate was 23.4% for the surgical treatment group, while the progressive disease rate was 28.1% for the non-surgical treatment group. The postoperative complication rates associated with surgical treatment in the two studies were 20.8 and 17.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

When considering the exacerbation rate, non-surgical treatment might be appropriate for asymptomatic patients with extra-peritoneal desmoid-type fibromatosis. However, if patients with tumor-related symptoms opt for surgery, including those who face difficulties due to the presence of tumors, it is important to fully explain to them the possibility that the recurrence rate and treatment-associated functional failures may increase depending on the site of occurrence.