Cytodiagnosis of Post-Traumatic Nodular Fasciitis

Reactive fibroblastic proliferations mimic sarcoma clinically and histologically. They need to be recognised and accurately diagnosed to differentiate from sarcomas and predict the prognosis. Nodular fasciitis (NF) is a benign myofibroblastic proliferation in the soft tissue. The most common locations are the upper extremities, followed by trunk, particularly the chest wall and back. We studied the aspirate obtained from a pre-auricular post-traumatic swelling in a boy, and a diagnosis of reactive fibroblastic proliferation was made after ruling out other common tumours in that region. Subsequent histology confirmed NF and helped in the management of the case.