CT AND MR-IMAGING IN ELASTOFIBROMA - A RA RE, BENIGN SOFT-TISSUE TUMOR

Elastofibroma is a rare, benign soft-tissue tumor that occurs along th e chest wall in the periscapular region. We identified five patients w ith a surgical diagnosis of elastofibroma who had had CT and/or MR sca ns. CT and MR imaging were compared to histologic findings in two pati ents. CT was available in three patients and demonstrated periscapular soft-tissue tumor with an attenuation similar to that of adjacent mus cle. In one patient, the tumors appeared homogeneous. In two patients, the tumor showed strands of low density similar to that of adjacent s ubcutaneous fat on CT. On MR imaging, all five tumors showed predomina ntly low-signal intensity on both T-1 and T-2-weighted images. The tum ors contained focal areas with high-signal intensity on T-1-weighted s cans that showed intermediate to high-signal intensity with T-2-weight ing. The areas of low-signal intensity on both T-1 and T-2-weighted im ages corresponded histologically to fibroelastic tissue. The areas of high signal intensity on T-1-weighting and intermediate to high-signal intensity on T-2-weighting reflected focal areas of fat within the tu mor. Although CT and MR imaging findings are not specific, the presenc e of a soft-tissue tumor along the chest wall in a periscapular locati on that shows predominantly low intensity on all sequences reflecting fibrous tissue with interspersed focal areas of fatty tissue is highly suggestive of elastofibroma.