Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Subfascial fat herniation: sonographic features of back mice

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Skeletal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Three adult patients are described with sonographic features of subfascial fat hernation. Each patient presented to the musculoskeletal ultrasound department at our institution for the evaluation of a palpable mass of the low back. Subfascial fat hernation, also known as back mice and fibro-fatty nodule, are an uncommon cause of a palpable mass in the low back or low back pain. They are small mobile subcutaneous nodules in a characteristic location near the posterior superior iliac spine. This entity has not been described in the radiology literature. These cases are presented in order to demonstrate the sonographic findings of back mice and to describe key anatomic features.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Curtis P, Gibbons G, Price J. Fibro-fatty nodules and low back pain: the back mouse masquerade. J Fam Pract. 2000;49(4):345–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Motyka TM, Howes BR, Gwyther RE, Curtis P. Treatment of low back pain associated with “back mice”: a case series. J Clin Rheumatol. 2000;6(3):136–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Singewald ML. Another cause of low back pain: lipomata in the sacroiliac region. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc. 1966;77:73–9.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Wollgast GF, Afeman CE. Sacroiliac (episacral) lipomas. Arch Surg. 1961;83:925–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Erdem HR, Nacir B, Ozeri Z, Karagoz A. Episacral lipoma: a treatable cause of low back pain. Agri Derg. 2013;25(2):83–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Herz R. Subfascial fat herniation as a cause of low back pain: differential diagnosis and incidence in 302 cases of backache. Ann Rheum Dis. 1952;11(1):30–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Light HG. Hernia of the inferior lumbar space: a cause of back pain. Arch Surg. 1983;118(9):1077–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bicket MC, Simmons C, Zheng Y. The best-laid plans of “back mice” and men: a case report and literature review of episacroiliac lipoma. Pain Physician. 2016;19(3):181–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Copeman WS. Fibro-fatty tissue and its relation to certain rheumatic syndromes. Br Med J. 1949;2(4620):191–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Curtis P. In search of the ‘back mouse’. J Fam Pract. 1993;36(6):657–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Parker L, Nazarian LN, Carrino JA, Morrison WB, Grimaldi G, Frangos AJ, et al. Musculoskeletal imaging: Medicare use, costs, and potential for cost substitution. JACR. 2008;5(3):182–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christin A. Tiegs-Heiden.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tiegs-Heiden, C.A., Murthy, N.S., Glazebrook, K.N. et al. Subfascial fat herniation: sonographic features of back mice. Skeletal Radiol 47, 137–140 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-017-2772-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-017-2772-9

Keywords

Navigation