Recurrent dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the anterior abdominal wall with challenging post-excision anterior wall reconstruction: case report and review of the literature

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is an uncommon low-grade soft tissue tumour with a reasonably high recurrence rate. It represents an indolent, locally aggressive soft tissue tumour that arises from the dermal and subcutaneous layers. Large anterior abdominal wall dermatofibrosarcoma provides a unique challenge in its surgical oncology management due to its potential considerable size at the time of presentation and diagnosis, ability to invade into critical adjoining structures, and residual normal tissues available for reconstruction. This publication article presents a case report of a patient with recurrent locally aggressive dermatofibrosarcoma of the anterior abdominal wall who had a wide local excision biopsy with resultant extensive full-thickness anterior abdominal wall defect that was reconstructed using bilateral rotational transversus abdominis muscle flap and polypropylene meshplasty. Provided also in the article is the detailed review of the clinical presentation, radiological findings, surgical procedure, adjuvant therapy, and the outcome of management.