The Rubber Band Man: An Unexpected Reason for Breathing Difficulty

Abstract

A 73-year-old male presented to his physician with difficulty breathing. The patient described a nagging inability to take a deep breath, and his wife noted what appeared to be a mass on his back, that she believed had gotten bigger. He had a notable family history of soft tissues masses in numerous family members. Physical examination revealed non-painful, soft, and movable masses along the inferior edges of both scapulae, consistent with elastofibroma. Pulmonary function testing and cardiac evaluation revealed normal results. The masses remained stable in size across repeat Magnetic Resonance Imaging and were managed conservatively due to their non-impeding nature and lack of cosmetic concerns. This case highlights the importance of considering elastofibroma in patients with soft tissue masses, the significance of their physical symptomatology and the decision-making process involved in selecting appropriate management strategies based on individual patient characteristics and clinical presentations.