title: Non-fibrositic lumbar subcutaneous nodules: prevalence and clinical significance.
abstract: Lumbar subcutaneous nodules (LSNs) have been associated with fibrositis but are distinct from painful myalgic trigger points and tender points. One hundred and twenty-six adults (53 males and 73 females) were examined for LSNs. LSNs varied in size from a +/- 3 mm 'corn kernel' (15/47) to +/- 5 mm 'pea' (21/47) to +/- 10 mm, 'grape' (11/47), occurred singly (22/47) and in clusters of two to seven uni- and bilaterally. Eight of 47 LSNs overlying the posterior superior iliac spines (PSIS) were tender. The results of a cross-tabular analysis using disease as the independent variable and presence or absence of LSNs as the dependent, found no differences (chi 2 = 1.06, df = 2). LSNs occur near the PSIS in approximately 25% of white adults, are rarely a cause of back pain, and should seldom require biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Arthritis and Back Pain Center, Santa Monica, California 90404.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Swezey
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000150:complications; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence