Tumors of the shoulder girdle: a review of 194 cases

Abstract

The upper extremity is the third most common site of primary bone and soft-tissue tumors. The purpose of this study was to determine the types and prevalence of bone and soft-tissue tumors that occur in the shoulder girdle and to identify physical findings that may be indicative of malignancy. This is a retrospective review of 194 consecutive neoplasms of the shoulder girdle seen by the senior author from 1996 through 2000. Benign tumors (n = 139) were more common than malignant tumors (n = 55). The presence of pain and the presence of mass were not risk factors for malignancy (P = .41 and P = .16, respectively). Malignant tumors occurred in an older population (P < .0007). Tenderness and tumor location in the scapula were also found to be risk factors for malignancy (P = .0002 and P = .0001, respectively). In summary, we have identified 3 variables that were found to be associated with malignancy in the shoulder girdle: older age, tenderness on palpation, and a lesion in the scapula.