title: Fasciitis ossificans with a radial neuropathy: a benign differential diagnosis for soft tissue sarcoma.
abstract: A soft tissue mass with an associated neuropathy suggests a malignancy with nerve compression or infiltration. However, there are benign diagnoses to consider. We report a case of an axillary mass with a radial nerve neuropathy, initially suspected to be a soft tissue sarcoma. The final diagnosis was fasciitis ossificans. This is the first such reported case. The presence of severe pain and tenderness suggested an inflammatory process. Fasciitis ossificans is a rare form of heterotopic bone formation, commonly presenting with signs of local inflammation or pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia. warrenrozen@hotmail.com
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Rozen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galloway
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salinas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schlicht
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018236:Carcinoma, Embryonal / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005208:Fasciitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020425:Radial Neuropathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy