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Five patients had a solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura; a well-known but rare entity. In all cases, biopsy by a transthoracic cutting needle (Tru-Cut; Travenol; Deerfield, IL) yielded specimens [...]

Fibroadenomas are noncancerous tumors that are made up of dense fibrous tissue and connective tissue. These types of tumors are most commonly located in the breasts. Diagnosis can be done by procedure called fine-needle aspiration, which involves inserting a thin needle into the breast and withdrawing a sample of fluid and tissue. Breast biopsies with fine-needle aspiration or surgery are necessary to distinguish fibroadenomas from cancerous tumors. In most cases of fibroadenoma, the tumor decreases in size as the patient grows older, and in some cases the tumors can become calcified. Therefore, it is not clear if fibroadenomas should be surgically removed or just monitored over time. The medical records were reviewed of 498 cases of fibroadenomas and 17 cases of phyllodes tumors (flattened or leaf-shaped tumors). Patients with fibroadenomas were younger and had smaller tumors than those with phyllodes tumors. The patients with fibroadenomas were an average of 29 years old, and the average tumor size was 2 centimeters (cm). The patients with phyllodes tumors were an average of 44 years old, and the average tumor size was 4 cm. No cancerous tumors were found in any of the patients with fibroadenomas. Because no cancer was associated with the fibroadenomas and these types of tumors usually regress with time, surgery is not recommended for these patients unless the tumors begin to grow rapidly. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

(CHEST 1999; 115:1735-1737) A 71-year old man complained of enlargement of A his distal phalanges. He did not have any other musculoskeletal complaints, and he denied pulmonary symptoms. He was [...]

Elastofibroma dorsi is a benign condition that is sometimes regarded as a malignant neoplasm (tumor) because it has the ability to infiltrate bone and muscle. It often occurs in elderly women and affects the upper back in the subscapular region, below the wing bone. Elastofibroma is usually a firm, solid, slow-growing mass which does not adhere to the overlying skin. These tumors may develop following mechanical friction in the area. To avoid unnecessary radical surgery it is important to differentiate elastofibroma dorsi from a similar appearing malignancy. An 82-year-old woman who had a slowly growing mass on her shoulder for several months was found to have a huge tumor with crater-like ulcers; the tumor was first considered to be a malignancy. The patient was diagnosed with elastofibroma after tissue biopsy. Large amounts of collagen (connective tissue) and elastin fibers are found within these tumors. It is suggested that elastofibroma dorsi may not be a localized process, but may be caused by an underlying predisposition or enzyme defect. A familial pattern has also been suggested in the incidence of elastofibroma dorsi. Treatment is excision of the tumor itself. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)