Nuchal-type Fibroma: Single-Center Experience and Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Nuchal-type fibroma is a rare benign tumor arising from the connective tissue. Our aim was to present our experience via two cases of this tumor and a comprehensive review of the literature.

Patients and methods: We report a case of a 23-year-old female with a mass located in the posterior neck and the upper back and a case of a 50-year-old male with a mass located in the posterior neck, which were proved to be nuchal-type fibromas in the histopathological examination. We also searched the PubMed/Medline database for published cases of nuchal-type fibromas.

Results and discussion: Nuchal-type fibroma is a rare benign tumor arising from the connective tissue, usually in the posterior neck, which affects different ages, with most patients being male. It is a poorly circumscribed tumor consisting of hypocellular, thick, dense and haphazardly arranged collagen bundles with entrapped adipocytes, nerve fibers and muscle fascicles and a few scattered spindle cells, which are CD34 positive. Its excision is curative, and the recurrence risk is generally low. However, patients with Gardner's syndrome may experience recurrence more frequently.

Conclusion: Nuchal-type fibroma should be included in the differential diagnosis of subcutaneous, soft-tissue masses, especially when these involve the posterior neck.

Keywords: CD34; Nuchal; fibroma; review; tumor.