Elastofibroma is relatively rare, benign, slow-growing, fibroproliferative tumor that is localized mainly in the subscapular region. The usual clinical presentation of the tumor is elderly patients complaining of shoulder pain or discomfort and mechanical obstruction to arm movement. On the other hand, many cases have been reported where the patient feels no discomfort and only lumps are observed for a long time.
We diagnosed and operated on a case of elastofibroma dorsi accompanied by severe back pain, and examined the tumor pathologically. Some authors suggest that when elastofibroma is revealed using CT or MRI and the patient has no discomfort, further aggressive treatment is not required. However, some elastofibromas clinically resemble malignant tumors of the back. We therefore recommend that all elastofibromas be excised and examined pathologically.
