fasciitis

[fas″e-i´tis]

inflammation of a fascia.

necrotizing fasciitis a fulminating group A streptococcal infection beginning with severe or extensive cellulitis that spreads to involve the superficial and deep fascia, producing thrombosis of the subcutaneous vessels and gangrene of the underlying tissues. A cutaneous lesion usually serves as a portal of entry for the infection, but sometimes no such lesion is found.

nodular fasciitis (proliferative fasciitis) a benign, reactive proliferation of fibroblasts in the subcutaneous tissues and commonly associated with the deep fascia.

pseudosarcomatous fasciitis a benign soft tissue tumor occurring subcutaneously and sometimes arising from deep muscle and fascia.

nod·u·lar fas·ci·i·tis

a rapidly growing tumorlike proliferation of fibroblasts, not thought to be neoplastic, with mild inflammatory exudation occurring in fascia; the fibrosis may infiltrate surrounding tissue but does not progress indefinitely or metastasize.

Synonym(s): pseudosarcomatous fasciitis

nodular fasciitis

A benign, rapidly growing reactive proliferation of fibroblasts in the deep dermis/subcutis on the arms, trunk, or neck of young adults (mean age 34), usually measuring < 3 cm.

DiffDx
Dermatofibroma, DFSP, other fasciitides (fibroma of tendon sheath, intravascular, parosteal), fibromatosis, fibrosarcoma, fibrous histiocytoma, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour, leiomyosarcoma, myxoid tumours, spindle-cell sarcoma.