Diagnosis and treatment of elastofibroma dorsi: experience in 10 cases / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To summarize the experience in the diagnosis and treatment of elastofibroma dorsi,focusing on the clinical features,the specific radiological characteristics,and the typical pathological alterations.Methods Clinical data of 10 cases of pathologically confirmed elastofibroma dorsi from January 1997 to April 2008 were retrospectively reviewed.Results Most patients were female(8/10)in this series.All the lesions were located within the muscles in the subscapular region.There were 13 lesions in 10 cases(3 cases with bilateral involvement).Seven patients complained of pain and feeling of foreign body,and three were asymptomatic.The size of the masses was between 4 centimeters to 12 centimeters,averaging at(7.46 ±2.70)centimeters.Except for the early 3 cases,accurate diagnosis was made in all the other 7 cases before the histological exams solely based on the physical examination and imaging findings.Marginal excision was done for all the cases under general anesthesia.Fluid accumulation,as the only kind of complication was found in 3 cases which was resolved by repeated paracentesis.No recurrence was found during the follow-up period(4 months to 125 months,median 11 months).Conclusion Elastofibroma dorsi is a rare,pseudotumoral lesion usually found in elderly women.It is a very special type of soft tissue tumors that its diagnosis can usually be made solely on the basis of unique imaging characteristics and physical examination before the histological exam.Surgical marginal excision is the choice of treatment with good short-term and long-term results.