The added value of CEUS and ultrasound-guided biopsy in diagnosing an aggressive desmoplastic small round cell tumour of peritoneum in a young male. A case report.

Abstract

Desmoplastic small round cell tumour (DSRCT) is a rare and highly aggressive mesenchymal neoplasm with poor prognosis that develops in male adolescents and young adults. We report the case of a 32-year-old male admitted with abdominal distension and ascites. An ultrasonography (US) scan showed multiple peritoneal masses with large ascites. The dominant mass had a hypervascular homogenous aspect at contrast-enhanced ultrasound with wash-out in the venous phase. Thoracoabdominal CT, performed for staging the disease, confirmed the US aspect. The US-guided percutaneous biopsy revealed DSRCT of the peritoneum. Chemotherapy was then started with minimal clinical improvement, increase in tumoral burden and death after three months. US and US-guided biopsy played an essential role in diagnosing this case. The aggressive course of the disease and seeding at paracentesis sites are the particularities of the presented case.