2013 Volume 27 Issue 7 Pages 837-840
Elastofibroma dorsi (EFD) is a relatively rare, benign, slow-growing, fibroproliferative tumor, which is often localized in the subscapular region on the chest wall. EFD is often asymptomatic and incidentally discovered by patients with the development of a mass in the subscapular region. Surgical excision is recommended when EFD causes functional disability or symptoms. A 61-year-old man presented with increasing discomfort in the right posterior chest wall. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a 7.6×2.3-cm heterogeneous soft-tissue mass in the infrascapular region. T1- and T2- weighted magnetic imaging (MRI) showed a soft-tissue mass that was isointense to skeletal muscle groups interlaced with hyperintense fatty areas between the corpus of the right scapula and chest wall. The tumor was diagnosed as EFD. Surgery was indicated due to his symptom and the tumor size, and the lesion was composed of a mixture of coarse elastic fibers and collagenous tissue with scattered fibroblasts, associated with entrapped mature fat cells. There are some reports of EFD by orthopedic and plastic surgeons. MRI can be the most reliable and noninvasive technique for the conclusive diagonosis of EFD. Asymptomatic patients with typical imaging characteristics may not require biopsy or excision. We conclude that EFD should be kept in mind by chest surgeons.
