Key result
Rapidly growing self-limiting sternal tumors of childhood resolve completely within six months under conservative management.
Case Report (n=3)
No
SELSTOC is a benign, self-limiting condition in infants that can be managed conservatively with ultrasound monitoring, avoiding unnecessary interventions.
SELSTOC may warrant conservative ultrasound monitoring in infants; leaves open confirmation of natural history in larger series.
Introduction: SELSTOC (self-limiting sternal tumor of childhood) is a rapidly growing, self-limiting sternal/parasternal lesion of unknown etiology, first described in 2010.It has a median age of 16 months.It may present with local inflammation, but there is no systemic involvement.Mildly elevated inflammatory markers may be observed.Ultrasound shows a well-defined, non-infiltrative, dumbbell-shaped subcutaneous lesion.Additional investigations are unnecessary and conservative management is recommended.Case report: we report three cases (2023 -2024) of healthy infants (aged seven, 13, and 27 months) with sudden sternal/parasternal swelling, with no trauma or fever.One had localized pain.Two showed mildly elevated inflammatory markers.Ultrasound imaging revealed well-defined, hypoechoic, dumbbell-shaped subcutaneous lesions in every case.MRI (two cases) confirmed these findings.All received antibiotics due to diagnostic uncertainty, with complete resolution within six months.Discussion: the clinical presentation and favorable outcome support the diagnosis of SELSTOC.It is important to recognize this condition and choose conservative management with ultrasound monitoring, avoiding unnecessary medications and additional examinations.
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Carvalho et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Self-limiting sternal tumor of childhood (SELSTOC) (n=3). Conservative management and ultrasound monitoring was evaluated on Complete resolution of the lesion. Three cases of self-limiting sternal tumor of childhood (SELSTOC) presented as rapidly growing, dumbbell-shaped subcutaneous lesions that completely resolved within six months.
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