[Elastofibroma dorsi: Diagnosis and follow-up in primary care]

To present a series of patients with elastofibroma dorsi (ED) in order to recall the pathology and justify its diagnostic and therapeutic management in the primary care setting.

Retrospective observational and longitudinal study of 12 patients with 18ED. Epidemiological, clinical and imaging characteristics were analysed. Treatment outcomes were assessed in terms of pain (VAS scale), shoulder function (Constant and Murley scale) and quality of life (EuroQol-5 dimension scale, EQ-5D). The mean follow-up of the cases was 60.5months (5years, range 1-161months).

Six patients were male and six were female, with a mean age at diagnosis of 59years. The diagnosis of suspicion in all cases was based in clinical and imaging findings. Only three required surgery. The results of all were satisfactory.

Both the diagnosis and the indication for treatment of an ED can be made in the primary care setting. In typical cases, which are the majority, the clinical history and an ultrasound study allow a diagnosis of certainty. The indication for conservative or surgical treatment depends on the informed patient. When there are diagnostic doubts or the patient wishes surgical resection of the tumour, the patient should be referred to a hospital specialist.