Journal Information
Vol. 108. Issue 10.
Pages 939-940 (December 2017)
Visits
8058
Vol. 108. Issue 10.
Pages 939-940 (December 2017)
Case for Diagnosis
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Stony-hard Subcutaneous Nodule
Nódulo pétreo subcutáneo
Visits
8058
J.F. Millán-Cayetanoa,
Corresponding author
jf.millancayetano@gmail.com

Corresponding author.
, I.C. Abiteib, P. García-Monteroa, L. Padilla-Españaa
a Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella, Málaga, Spain
b Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella, Málaga, Spain
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Medical History

A 78-year-old woman with a history of arterial hypertension was referred to our dermatology department for assessment of a nodule on the proximal third of the right forearm that had first appeared more than 10 years earlier. The lesion was not painful but did cause mild discomfort following trauma or manipulation.

Physical Examination

Physical examination revealed a small, hard, well-defined, 7-mm subcutaneous nodule that was adherent to deeper tissue layers and appeared to move with muscle contraction.

Histopathology

Histopathologic examination (Fig. 1) revealed a subcutaneous mass consisting of fibroblasts with ovoid nuclei and prominent nucleoli. Calcified areas and foci of chondroid metaplasia were also observed.

Figure 1.

Hematoxylin-eosin, original magnification×4.

(0.64MB).
Additional Tests

A skin ultrasound performed during the consultation (Fig. 2) showed a heterogeneous, well-defined, ovoid lesion that contained hypoechoic areas and was clearly in contact with the underlying muscle tissue, to which it appeared to be attached. Doppler ultrasound showed no increase in intra- or perilesional vascularization.

Figure 2
(0.14MB).

What Is Your Diagnosis?

Diagnosis

Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma.

Clinical Course and Treatment

The nodule was excised and direct closure of the defect was performed without complications. The patient has remained asymptomatic with no recurrence detected.

Comment

Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma is a benign tumor first described in 1953. It has traditionally been considered more frequent in children and adolescents. This lesion has been reported in patients of many ages, including as old as 69 years,1 although our patient was even older, at 78 years of age. The lesion is usually located on the most distal part of the limbs, although cases at less common sites have also been reported.2

Clinical presentation of calcifying aponeurotic fibroma takes the form of a hard tumor that is not attached to the underlying skin, grows slowly and progressively over several years, and is completely asymptomatic except in cases in which symptoms are caused by the compression of adjacent structures.3

Diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical findings and imaging studies. Radiology studies tend to reveal a mass of soft tissues containing irregular foci of calcification. In one case report, ultrasound showed a well-defined lobed mass containing hyperechoic foci.4 Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings have also been described.1,5 However, although imaging studies can provide clues, definitive diagnosis is always based on histopathologic examination of either a partial biopsy specimen or the excised lesion. Histopathology shows a tumor composed of fibroblasts with round or ovoid nuclei and a tendency to infiltrate the surrounding tissue.1,2 In addition, chondroid metaplasia and clear foci of calcification are often present. The differential diagnosis varies depending on the site, but must include chondroma, palmar-plantar fibromatosis, pilomatricoma, aggressive fibromatosis, and synovial sarcoma.

The first-line treatment is complete excision of the lesion. Nevertheless, the likelihood of recurrence is high because the infiltrative nature of the lesion often prevents complete excision.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Références
[1]
O.H. Kim, Y.M. Kim.
Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma: Case report with radiographic and MR features.
Korean J Radiol, 15 (2014), pp. 134-139
[2]
M. Takaku, I. Hashimoto, H. Nakanishi, T. Kurashiki.
Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma of the elbow: A case report.
J Med Invest, 58 (2011), pp. 159-162
[3]
D.H. Kim, M. Hwang, J.I. Lee, J.W. Park.
Acute median-nerve compression caused by calcifying aponeurotic fibroma.
Am J Phys Med Rehabil, 85 (2006), pp. 1017-1018
[4]
S.J. Choi, J.H. Ahn, G. Kang, J.H. Lee, M.S. Park, D.S. Ryu, et al.
Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma with osseous involvement of the finger: A case report with radiologic and US findings.
Korean J Radiol, 9 (2008), pp. 91-93
[5]
J. Nishio, H. Inamitsu, H. Iwasaki, H. Hayashi, M. Naito.
Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma of the finger in an elderly patient: CT and MRI findings with pathologic correlation.
Exp Ther Med, 8 (2014), pp. 841-843

Please cite this article as: Millán-Cayetano JF, Abitei IC, García-Montero P, Padilla-España L. Nódulo pétreo subcutáneo. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2017;108:939–940.

Copyright © 2016. Elsevier España, S.L.U. and AEDV
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