Abstract
RATIONALE: Cellular angiofibroma (CAF) is a rare benign mesenchymal tumor, which is difficult to diagnose due to its lack of specificity in clinical and imaging manifestations. This case highlights the challenges in the preoperative diagnosis of inguinoscrotal CAF and emphasizes the necessity of histopathologic confirmation. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 53-year-old male was found to have a mass in the right inguinal area for 2 years, which had consciously increased for over a month. During the course of the disease, the patient did not experience any significant discomfort. DIAGNOSES: Physical examination showed a mass in the right inguinal area, about 14 cm in length, with a tough texture and good mobility. Imaging examinations (including ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging) have confirmed the presence of a mass in the right inguinal region, adjacent to the right spermatic cord. A benign tumor was suspected based on the clinical symptoms and imaging findings. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent a complete surgical resection of the tumor under intravenous anesthesia. The tumor is gray-yellow in color, with a capsule, and can be separated from surrounding tissues. OUTCOMES: The surgery was successfully completed without any special discomfort to the patient, and the final pathological diagnosis was CAF. At 3 and 6 months, ultrasound examination showed no signs of tumor recurrence. LESSONS: Accurate histopathological examination and long-term follow-up are key to ensuring a good prognosis for CAF patients.