Child abuse masquerading as a soft tissue sarcoma

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pathology
• Dermatopathology
• Skeletal Muscle Pathology

Background:

• Pediatric fasciitides are uncommon benign soft tissue lesions.
• Nodular fasciitis is the most frequent type, typically affecting adults.
• Infantile nodular fasciitis is rare, especially in infants under 5 years.

Observation:

• A 5-month-old male infant presented with a lesion suspicious for malignancy.
• Clinical presentation included a history suggestive of trauma.
• The lesion was located in the pediatric population.

Findings:

• Histopathological examination confirmed nodular fasciitis.
• The diagnosis was established in the context of nonaccidental trauma.
• This represents a rare occurrence of nodular fasciitis in an infant.

Implications:

• Nodular fasciitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pediatric soft tissue masses.
• Awareness of this condition is crucial for accurate diagnosis in infants.
• The association with nonaccidental trauma necessitates careful clinical evaluation.