Journal List > Korean J Sports Med > v.33(2) > 1054542

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Korean J Sports Med. 2015 Dec;33(2):134-138. Korean.
Published online December 07, 2015.  https://doi.org/10.5763/kjsm.2015.33.2.134
Copyright © 2015 The Korean Society of Sports Medicine
Scapulothoracic Bursitis in a Amateur Baseball Pitcher
Jung Hoei Ku, Hyung Lae Cho, Tae Hyok Hwang and Dong Hyun Lee
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Good Samsun Hospital, Busan, Korea.

Correspondence: Hyung Lae Cho. Department of Orthopaedic surgery, Good Samsun Hospital, 193-5 Jurye 2(i)-dong, Sasang-gu, Busan 47007, Korea. Tel: +82-51-322-0900, Fax: +82-51-310-9348, Email: hljo88@hanmail.net
Received May 01, 2015; Revised June 03, 2015; Accepted June 04, 2015.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


Abstract

Scapulothoracic bursitis refers to inflammation of the bursae secondary to trauma or overuse owing to sports activities or work. It usually causes persistent pain and scapulothoracic crepitus by irritation of bursa but can be presented as painless mass around chest wall. We report a case of scapulothoracic bursitis in a baseball pitcher presenting as rapidly growing chest wall mass confused with a soft tissue tumor. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed as a well-demarcated cystic mass situated between the scapula and chest wall. Incisional drainage resulted in complete resolution of the mass within a couple of weeks. Scapulothoracic bursitis may be presented as painless huge mass in overhead sports athlete and one of the differential diagnoses of soft tissue tumor of the chest wall.

Keywords: Scapulothracic bursitis; Chest wall mass; Incisional drainage; Baseball pitcher

Figures


 Fig. 1
Photographs show the huge mass (A) along the medial border of the scapula in arm resting position and (B) the mass moves to below the inferior angle of scapula with arm elevation.
Click for larger image


Fig. 2
(A) Coronal and (B) axial computed tomography scan show asymmetrical soft tissue density inferior to scapula and outer surface of rib cage. Arrows indicate distended scapulothoracic bursa.
Click for larger image


Fig. 3
Magnetic resonance images of scapulothoracic bursitis. (A) Coronal and (B) axial T1-weighted images) demonstrate a well-demarcated low signal intensity lenticular mass. (C) Coronal and (D) axial T2-weighted images shows high signal intensity mass situated at the subscapular region between the serratus anterior and the rib cage. SC: subscapulatis muscle, LD: latissimus dorsi muscle, SA: serratus anterior muscle. Gadolinium enhanced (E) Coronal and (F) axial T1-weighted image shows rim-like enhancement.
Click for larger image


Fig. 4
On photographs two weeks after the incisional drainage, the mass had regressed completely (A) in resting and (B) arm elevated position. Arrow indicates a healed incisional wound.
Click for larger image

Notes

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

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