Where is your smartphone? An unusual mass within the tensor fasciae latae muscle

Abstract

Overview

We report a unique case involving a 40-year-old Italian man who was diagnosed with an intramuscular schwannoma in his left thigh. This diagnosis corresponds to the area where he typically carried his smartphone.

Findings

• Location and Size: An ultrasound examination displayed a well-defined, encapsulated, hypoechoic lesion measuring 41 × 15 × 28 mm.
• Vascularity: The lesion showed multiple small foci of vascularity via color Doppler.
• Elastography: The lesion had a deformability score of 2, indicating areas of stiffness.
• MRI Results: MRI confirmed a spindle-shaped mass with varying enhancement post contrast administration.

Conclusion

The position of the tumor corresponds directly to the area where the patient's smartphone, specifically the SIM card, was usually kept. While a definitive link between the smartphone storage habit and the schwannoma cannot be firmly established, this scenario raises concerns about potential health risks linked to regular electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure from smartphones. Further research is encouraged to explore these implications more thoroughly.