title: Scrape and fine-needle aspiration cytology of elastofibroma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytological findings of elastofibroma have rarely been reported and, to the best of our knowledge, have been illustrated in only 4 patients in the English language literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and scrape smears in 5 cases of elastofibroma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the lesions were typically located between the rib cage and the scapula. The cytological smears consisted of mature adipocytes, fibroblasts, collagen fibers, globular bodies and characteristic "braid-like" or "fern-like" structures, revealing degenerative elastic fibers. All the smears were specifically diagnosed as elastofibroma in combination with clinical and radiological findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FNAB smears of elastofibromas may be hypocellular due to their densely fibrous nature and therefore diagnostic material may often be overlooked. Careful evaluation of the background of the smears coupled with full knowledge of the clinical and radiological findings, including magnetic resonance imaging, is required to establish the correct diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagira
authors.forename: Tetsuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akisue
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marui
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hitora
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshiya
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurosaka
authors.forename: Ryuko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tsukamoto
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D005350:Fibroma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012272:Ribs / Q000473:pathology; D012540:Scapula / Q000473:pathology; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen