Elastofibroma developing at the subscapular port site after thoracoscopic surgery: first case report

Elastofibroma Dorsi: A Rare Connective Tissue Tumor

Elastofibroma dorsi (ED) is a benign connective tissue tumor that most commonly occurs on the inferior pole of the scapula. It can be found incidentally on radiologic imaging or due to clinical symptoms. Patients may become apprehensive due to it mimicking new malignancy or recurrence of prior malignancy. Treatment is only recommended in symptomatic cases and biopsy is usually unnecessary. We present a case of a 70-year-old female status-post lung cancer resection who was found to have a lump at the inferior pole of her right scapula. She was seen by multiple different specialties and subsequently, a biopsy confirmed her mass to be consistent with ED. Since ED is a benign soft tissue tumor, educating physicians is of utmost importance to avoid pursuing unnecessary diagnosis and to thereby decrease the cost of care to the patient. Therapeutic excision should only be performed in symptomatic patients and observing these lesions in asymptomatic patients would be sufficient.

Retrospective analysis of 73 cases of elastofibroma

OBJECTIVE

Elastofibroma is a rare soft-tissue tumour. This study retrospectively analysed and summarised the clinical, imaging and typical pathological features, together with the short- and long-term surgical outcomes of patients with pathologically confirmed soft-tissue elastofibroma to improve their management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We enrolled 73 patients with pathologically confirmed soft-tissue elastofibroma from January 2010 to December 2018. The general, clinical, diagnostic and treatment-related data, operation notes, pathological examination results and follow-up status were obtained by reviewing inpatient medical records. Disease onset age, sex, tumour location and size were statistically analysed using the chi square and rank sum tests.

RESULTS

A total of 90 lesions from 73 patients were examined. Among these, 56 patients had single lesions: 27 were under the right scapula, 26 were under the left scapula, 1 at the umbilicus, 1 on the aortic valve, 1 on the right hip and 17 at the bilateral inferior angles of the scapula. The average age at onset was 56.4 years (range: 6-82 years). The male-to-female incidence ratio was about one to three. Tumour diameter and follow-up duration ranged from 2cm to 12cm and from one month to nine years, respectively; recurrence was not observed. The main postoperative complication was wound effusion, occurring in 24 sites among the 90 lesions, corresponding to an incidence rate of 26.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

A correct diagnosis of elastofibroma can be made prior to surgical resection by examining typical clinical features and characteristic imaging findings. Short- and long-term outcomes of local excision are good, with no further recurrence.