The Role of Colon in Isolated Intestinal Transplantation: Description of 4 Cases

TL;DR

This paper describes four cases where patients with intra-abdominal desmoid tumors received intestinal and colon transplants to manage intestinal failure.

Contribution

The study presents a novel approach using isolated intestinal and ascending colon transplantation for patients with unresectable desmoid tumors.

Findings

Cadaveric isolated intestinal and ascending colon transplantation was performed in four patients with unresectable desmoid tumors.

The procedure offered a viable treatment option for patients facing intestinal failure due to tumor resection.

This approach may reduce the need for life-long total parenteral nutrition in such cases.

Abstract

Intra-abdominal desmoid tumors are a rare and complex clinical problem. These tumors are locally invasive, and surgical ablation represents the mainstay of treatment. When localized at the root of the mesentery, their resection may require extensive excision of the intestine resulting in intestinal failure and life-long total parenteral nutrition. Intestinal transplantation, either autotransplantation or allotransplantation, has been used as a viable option to treat this group of patients. Herein, we describe a series of 4 patients with unresectable intra-abdominal desmoid tumor who underwent cadaveric isolated intestinal and ascending colon transplantation.