Bilateral elastofibroma dorsi: A case report

Management of Symptomatic Elastofibroma Dorsi: A Case Report and Literature Review

Elastofibroma dorsi (ED) is a rare tumor that most often occurs in the subscapular and infrascapular region between the thoracic wall, serratus anterior, and latissimus dorsi muscle. Based on a review of the literature, ED has been deemed an extremely rare entity. However, the incidence may be greater and is difficult to determine as the majority of ED being asymptomatic and therefore undiagnosed. Surgical excision is commonly performed when patients present with pain associated with ED. This being the case, it is important to evaluate the factors contributing to the pain seen in these patients and to evaluate the risks vs benefits of intervening in symptomatic ED patients who present for possible surgical intervention. We herein report a case of bilateral ED, situated in the upper back with only the right side being symptomatic in a 56-year-old male laborer. Due to pain in the right upper back, the patient underwent surgical removal of the ED. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient had an excellent recovery. A review of the literature showed no correlation between pain on presentation and tumor size or location. Major complications of treating these patients include seroma or hematoma formation which according to the literature can be avoided using postoperative tube drainage and compressing bandages.

Elastofibroma: An Uncommon Tumor Revisited

Elastofibromas are rare benign, soft-tissue slow-growing tumors seen predominantly in elderly females. The most common location is the infrascapular region. These benign tumors require resection only in symptomatic cases. We present a case of elastofibroma in a 46-year-old female. She presented with gradually increasing soft-tissue swelling of 8 cm × 6 cm in the right inferior subscapular region for the last 2 years. She underwent excisional biopsy and the histopathology was reported as elastofibroma. Microscopically, the mass showed numerous characteristic eosinophilic, beaded elastic fibers. These fibers were highlighted by the Verhoeff's elastic stain. We present this uncommon case to emphasize the important role of histopathology in diagnosis. A definitive diagnosis helps to avoid unnecessary wide and radical resection.