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. 2025 May 19;16(1):815.
doi: 10.1007/s12672-025-02556-6.

Rare rectal elastofibroma: diagnostic challenges and case report

Chen-Xin Xiang  1   2 , Yu Long  1   2 , Yi-Ning Xiang  3 , Fei Huang  1   2 , Yun Ke  1   2 , Yi-Ran Yao  4 , Yun-Huan Zhen  5
Affiliations

Rare rectal elastofibroma: diagnostic challenges and case report

Chen-Xin Xiang et al. Discov Oncol. .

Abstract

Elastofibroma (EF) is a rare soft tissue tumor that typically occurs in the scapular region, with its occurrence in the rectum being extremely uncommon. In this report, we present a case of rectal EF in a 72-year-old female, which was definitively diagnosed through histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and special staining analyses. This case emphasizes the diagnostic challenges posed by rectal EF and underscores the necessity of histopathological and immunohistochemical assessment in distinguishing it from other spindle cell neoplasms, particularly when imaging findings are inconclusive.

Keywords: Case report; Elastofibroma; Neuroendocrine tumors; Rectum; Special staining.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The research was ethically approved by Guizhou Medical University. Prior to participation, participants were duly informed of her rights and responsibilities and provided explicit written consent. The study was conducted in agreement with the guidelines governing research involving human participants, as outlined by the Ethics Committee of Guizhou Medical University. Consent to publication: The authors have obtained written consent to publish the images/details of the individual(s) included in this manuscript. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A submucosal elevation measuring approximately 0.4 cm in diameter is observed 15 cm from the anal verge, appearing slightly yellowish with indistinct borders, as indicated by the arrow
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Endoscopic Ultrasound Findings: White light observation with an endoscope revealed a flat elevation in the rectum approximately 15 cm from the anal verge. The water immersion technique was employed for ultrasound examination at a frequency of 20 MHz, indicating that the rectal elevation originated from a hypoechoic mass in the second layer (submucosa)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
In A, the arrow indicates a dense proliferation of spindle cells, arranged in bundles or interwoven patterns. In B, normal glandular structures are observed, with well-organized epithelial cells, and no evident dysplasia or neoplastic changes
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
In the figure, the green-stained area (indicated by the arrow) represents elastin fiber staining, showing a positive result, indicating an abundant presence of elastin fibers in the tissue. The blue-stained area corresponds to Masson's trichrome staining, also positive, demonstrating a large amount of collagen fibers. These staining results support the rich presence of both elastin and collagen fibers within the tissue
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Electronic Proctoscopy Findings and Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) Procedure for Rectal Submucosal Tumor
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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