Comparative study on imaging and pathological features of elastofibroma dorsi.
OBJECTIVE
Elastofibroma dorsi has an extremely low incidence. At present, comparative study on imaging manifestations and pathologic findings of elastofibroma dorsi has not been reported in China. This study was to investigate clinical manifestations, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearances, and pathologic features of elastofibroma dorsi and to improve preoperative imaging diagnosis of this disease.


METHODS
The clinical manifestations, imaging findings, and pathologic appearances of 6 cases of elastofibroma dorsi were retrospectively analyzed and related literatures were reviewed. All patients were examined with MRI, and 4 of them were examined with CT scan.


RESULTS
All patients were above 30 years old without obvious symptoms. The tumors presented as a lenticular soft-tissue mass in the deep subscapular region. The tumor's density on plain CT scan or signal intensity on MR T1-weighted image was approximately equal to that of muscle with some interlaced fat-like areas within mass suppressed by fat-suppression MR sequences, which corresponded to dense collagen tissue and interspersed mature adipose tissue observed microscopically.


CONCLUSIONS
CT and MRI can reflect the histological features of elastofibroma dorsi. On the basis of their imaging characteristics, a correct preoperative diagnosis of elastofibroma dorsi can easily be made.
Gao
Zhen-Hua
ZH
Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, PR China.
Ma
Ling
L
Liu
Da-Wei
DW
Deng
Huai-Fu
HF
Meng
Quan-Fei
QF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005350:Fibroma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012540:Scapula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed