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Updated: May 23, 2026

Measurement of Healthy and Injured Triceps Surae Morphology
Published on: October 27, 2023
Tendon sheath fibroma in the thigh
Vincent M Moretti1, Adedayo O Ashana, Michael de la Cruz
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. vincent.moretti@gmail.com
This case report details a rare tendon sheath fibroma in a 70-year-old man's thigh. This benign tumor, typically found in younger men's extremities, highlights the importance of considering unusual presentations in differential diagnoses.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Radiology
Background:
- Tendon sheath fibromas are rare, benign soft tissue tumors.
- They predominantly affect young adult men, typically in the fingers, hands, and wrists.
Observation:
- This article describes a unique case of a tendon sheath fibroma occurring in the thigh of a 70-year-old man.
- The lesion presented as a painless, slow-growing, firm, nontender soft tissue nodule.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a well-marginated lesion, dark on T1-weighted and bright on T2-weighted images, with contrast enhancement.
Findings:
- Histologically, the tumor showed dense fibrocollagenous stroma with spindle-shaped fibroblasts and vascular spaces.
- Marginal excision was performed, and the patient remained disease-free for 35 months postoperatively.
- Recurrence rate for tendon sheath fibromas is 24%, with no reported cases of metastasis.
Implications:
- This case expands the known anatomical locations for tendon sheath fibromas.
- It emphasizes the need to include tendon sheath fibroma in the differential diagnosis of thigh masses, particularly in men presenting with painless, benign-appearing nodules.
- The findings contribute to the understanding of the imaging and histological characteristics of this rare tumor in an atypical location.
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