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MRI features of calcifying aponeurotic fibroma in the upper arm: a case report and review of the literature

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Abstract

Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma is a rare soft tissue tumor that occurs in the distal extremities of children and adolescents. We report a case of pathologically proven calcifying aponeurotic fibroma in the left upper arm of a 23-year-old female. Radiographs revealed increased soft tissue density with multiple stippled calcifications in the mid-portion of the patient’s left upper arm. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a well-defined soft tissue mass with low to intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted images, heterogeneously low signal intensity on T2-weighted images, and heterogeneous enhancement on fat-suppressed, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. Histologically, spindle cell proliferation with scattered calcifications and hyalinization was present. Seven years after surgery, there was no evidence of local recurrence. This is the first report of MRI findings of calcifying aponeurotic fibroma in the upper arm. We also summarize the MRI findings of 16 previously reported cases of calcifying aponeurotic fibroma originating in the upper or lower extremities.

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Acknowledgments 

We express our sincere gratitude to Bonnie Hami of the Department of Radiology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, for her editorial assistance in the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, 877 Bangeojinsunhwan-doro, Dong-gu, Ulsan, 44033, Korea

    Sang Woo Shim, Byeong Seong Kang & Hyun Seok Shim

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea

    Chae-Chil Lee

  3. Department of Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea

    Jae Hee Suh

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  1. Sang Woo Shim
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  2. Byeong Seong Kang
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Correspondence to Byeong Seong Kang.

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Shim, S.W., Kang, B.S., Lee, CC. et al. MRI features of calcifying aponeurotic fibroma in the upper arm: a case report and review of the literature. Skeletal Radiol 45, 1139–1143 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-016-2412-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-016-2412-9

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