A 78-Year-Old Man with Elastofibroma Dorsi Presenting as a Left Subscapular Mass

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pathology
• Radiology

Background:

• Elastofibroma dorsi is a rare, benign soft-tissue tumor typically found in the subscapular region.
• It predominantly affects elderly women and is often asymptomatic, though it can cause discomfort during shoulder movement.

Observation:

• A case report of a 78-year-old man with an incidentally discovered asymptomatic left subscapular mass.
• Physical examination and MRI confirmed the presence of the subscapular mass.

Findings:

• Surgical excision of the mass was performed without complications.
• Histopathology revealed abundant, thick, irregular elastic fibers with a characteristic 'rope-like' appearance, confirming elastofibroma dorsi.
• Special stains (Verhoeff-Van Gieson) effectively highlighted the abnormal elastic fibers.

Implications:

• Elastofibroma dorsi should be considered in the differential diagnosis of subscapular masses.
• Accurate diagnosis relies on a combination of imaging, clinical history, and histopathological examination.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the pathophysiology of elastofibroma dorsi.