[Elastofibroma dorsi: a characteristic, benign, subscapular swelling]

Abstract

Two female patients, 63 and 67 years old, visited the outpatient department with a growing soft tissue swelling bilaterally in the subscapular region. Using CT imaging and core needle biopsy, the first patient was diagnosed with an 'elastofibroma dorsi'. Because of the benign character of this lesion an expectative policy was followed. In the second patient the swelling was resected unilaterally without preoperative clinical and radiological confirmation of the diagnosis. Pathological examination revealed the typical characteristics of an elastofibroma. As there were no symptoms, the contralateral lesion was not excised. Elastofibromas are benign, soft tissue tumours, for which resection is only indicated if they are symptomatic. To prevent unnecessary anxiety, medical investigations and interventions, on encountering subscapular soft tissue tumours, elastofibroma dorsi should be considered.