Elastofibroma Dorsi: Clinicopathological Analysis of 76 Cases

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, and treatment aspects of elastofibroma dorsi through a retrospective study of 76 patients who underwent surgery between January 2008 and December 2012 in our department. METHODS: Our study is retrospective between January 2008 and December 2012. We admitted 79 patients with a subscapular mass, and only 76 patients had ED. The others (n=2) had high associated risk of anesthesia and were managed by a medical treatment and one patient had a subscapular sclerotic hemangioma. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 49 years (range, 38 to 70 years), with a female predominance (54 females and 22 males). Subscapular location was constant. The right, left, and bilateral form was noted in 41, 15 and 20 cases, respectively. The diagnosis was clinical in 60 cases. Ultrasound and computerized tomography scans confirmed the diagnosis of an ill-defined mass in a subscapular location in all cases. Surgical treatment consisted of complete resection of the mass. The clinical diameter of the mass remained significantly lower than that of the surgical specimen (7 cm versus 12 cm) because the major hidden part of the mass in the subscapular area was inaccessible to palpation. Complications were noted in 9 cases (11.8%), seroma in 8 cases (10.5%), infection of wound site in 4 cases (5%), and parietal textilome in one case (1%). No case of recurrence was noted. CONCLUSION: Surgery of elastofibroma is unique because of the subscapular location of the parietal tumor, whose histological fibrous nature makes it very adherent to the chest wall.

Incidents and Complications of Permanent Venous Central Access Systems: A Series of 1,460 Cases

BACKGROUND: Implanted venous access devices or permanent central venous access systems (PCVASs) are routinely used in oncologic patients. Complications can occur during the implantation or use of such devices. We describe such complications of the PCVAS and their management. METHODS: Our retrospective study included 1,460 cases in which PCVAS was implanted in the 11 years between January 2002 and January 2013, including 810 women and 650 men with an average age of 45.2 years. We used polyurethane or silicone catheters. The site of insertion and the surgical or percutaneous procedure were selected on the basis of clinical data and disease information. The subclavian and cephalic veins were our most common sites of insertion. RESULTS: About 1,100 cases (75%) underwent surgery by training surgeons and 360 patients by expert surgeons. Perioperative incidents occurred in 33% and 12% of these patients, respectively. Incidents (28%) included technical difficulties (n=64), a subcutaneous hematoma (n=37), pneumothoraces (n=15), and an intrapleural catheter (n=1). Complications in the short and medium term were present in 14.2% of the cases. Distortion and rupture of the catheter (n=5) were noted in the costoclavicular area (pinch-off syndrome). There were 5 cases of catheter migration into the jugular vein (n=1), superior vena cava (n=1), and heart cavities (n=3). No patient died of PCVAS insertion or complication. CONCLUSION: PCVAS complications should be diagnosed early and treated with probable removal of this material for preventing any life-threatening outcome associated with complicated PVCAS.