Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma features seen on fine-needle aspiration biopsy: Case report and brief review of the literature

Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma is a rare benign soft tissue proliferation, which occurs in the distal extremities in children. We describe a case of c alcifying aponeurotic fibroma of the hand in a 9 year-old male diagnosed by FNA. Clinically and radiographically this mass was felt to be suspicious f or sarcoma, likely alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Cytologic examination reveale d benign appearing spindled cells, chondroid cells, multinucleated giant ce lls and calcific debris. These features recapitulate the classic histologic features of calcifying aponeurotic fibroma. Conservative excision was perf ormed and histologic exam confirmed the diagnosis. To the authors' knowledg e, this is the first description of the cytologic features of this entity. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.