Spontaneously regressing nodular fasciitis of the neck

Nodular fasciitis, a rare but definite clinico-pathological entity, has been described as a tumourous nodule which occurs predominantly in the subcutaneous fat and fascia, but may also rarely involve the deep fascia and contiguous muscle. It has been called subcutaneous fibromatosis, pseudosarcomatous fasciitis, proliferative fasciitis, infiltrative fasciitis, etc. Konwaler and his associates were the first to describe this condition in the name of 'pseudosarcomatous fasciitis' in 1955. Stout (1961) thinks that this term is most appropriate because the lesion simulates the appearance of sarcoma histologically, although it is not malignant, and because it usually shows some inflammatory stigmata. The term 'nodular fasciitis' was first used by Shuman (1961) and since then has been used by most authors, and therefore is used here. This paper describes a case of nodular fasciitis of the neck, unusual for its size and site, which spontaneously regressed; and it also reviews the cases described in the English Literature. We feel it is important to bring to the attention of otolaryngologists the existence of this pseudosarcomatous soft-tissue lesion (which may present in the neck), in order that it and malignant lesions may be properly differentiated and treated.