Congenital atrophic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

Atrophic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: Two case reports and literature review

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a rare, locally aggressive, slowly growing cutaneous fibroblastic sarcoma with a high recurrence rate and low metastatic potential. Atrophic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a rare variant usually presents as atrophic plaques, easily neglected and misdiagnosed as benign lesions by patients and dermatologists. Here we report two cases of atrophic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, one of which was accompanied by pigment, and review other cases have been reported in the literature. Understanding the most up-to-date literature and early identification of these dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans variants can help clinicians avoid delayed diagnosis and improve prognosis.

Systematic review of Mohs micrographic surgery in children: Identifying challenges and practical considerations for successful application

BACKGROUND

Few data exist to guide the application of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) in the pediatric population.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to summarize the clinical characteristics of children undergoing MMS, identify challenges that limit the use of MMS in this population, and examine how these challenges can be overcome.

METHODS

A systematic review of PubMed and EMBASE, from inception of databases to November 2, 2019, identified all cases of pediatric skin lesions treated with MMS.

RESULTS

A total of 111 patients were included. The median patient age was 11 years (range 6 weeks to 17 years). The most commonly treated tumor was dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (n = 62), followed by basal cell carcinoma (n = 30). The most common location was the head and neck (n = 34), followed by the trunk (n = 28) and the extremities (n = 23). The most commonly cited challenges in the application of MMS in children included patient cooperation, concerns for the safety of prolonged general anesthesia, availability of a MMS service in the pediatric setting, and access to a histopathology laboratory experienced in MMS sectioning.

LIMITATIONS

Many articles did not report specific patient characteristics.

CONCLUSION

Multiple obstacles limit the application of MMS in pediatric patients. This review describes practical methods to circumvent these obstacles to facilitate the appropriate use of MMS in children.

Current Update on the Molecular Biology of Cutaneous Sarcoma: Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans

OPINION STATEMENT

Cutaneous sarcoma is a group of malignant mesenchymal tumors primarily involving the dermis, and it is characterized by extreme clinicopathological heterogeneity. Although its occurrence rate is rare, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is one of the most common types of dermal sarcoma. DFSP grows slowly and tends to relapse locally after inadequate resection. There are various histological variants of DFSP tumors and it often mimics benign lesions such as dermatofibroma and scar, which make accurate diagnosis difficult and delayed, and some cases progress to the stage where the tumor is unresectable. Recent advancements in cancer genetics and molecular biology methods have elucidated the COL1A1-PDGFB fusion gene, some novel fusion gene variants and pathways related to DFSP pathogenesis that have resulted in the evolution of cutaneous sarcoma diagnosis and treatment. For example, some clinical studies have confirmed the efficacy of imatinib methylate, an αPDGFR-targeted therapy for unresectable or metastatic DFSP. The present review summarizes recent updates in DFSP research, diagnostics, and treatment.

[Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans : report of 27 cases and review of the literature]

Le dermatofibrosarcome de Darier et Ferrand (DFS) est une tumeur mésenchymateuse cutanée de malignité intermédiaire. C'est une tumeur rare mais non exceptionnelle, représentant 0,1% des tumeurs cutanées malignes. Les auteurs présentent une étude rétrospective de 27 cas de DFS diagnostiqués sur une durée de 7 ans (2004 à 2010) et la comparent aux données de la littérature. Cette étude permet d’établir en plus des caractéristiques anatomopathologiques et immunohistochimiques, une étude épidémiologique, clinique et évolutive de ce sarcome. l’âge moyen de nos patients est de 41 ans avec une prédominance masculine. Le tronc est la localisation préférentielle touché dans 52% des cas. La taille tumorale a atteint 30cm et mesure en moyenne 6,1 cm. Le diagnostic était évoqué à l'examen histologique standard et confirmé par l'expression intense et diffuse du CD34. Le traitement était chirurgical, associé à une radiothérapie dans 2 cas. L’évolution était marquée par la transformation en un sarcome pléomorphe de haut grade dans un cas et par la survenue de récidives locales dans 2 cas. Nos résultats sont classiques et comparables aux autres séries de la littérature. L'examen histologique est indispensable pour le diagnostic. L'exérèse chirurgicale large est le traitement de référence. Le pronostic est conditionné par une malignité surtout locale et un fort potentiel de récidive. La transformation sarcomateuse franchement maligne métastasiante est exceptionnelle.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in an adolescent: a case report and review of the literature

Classically, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a disease of adults. The world literature revision shows that several pediatric cases have been reported so far; this might suggest that the number of infants with the condition might be larger than that estimated previously. Here, we report the 183rd case of histologically confirmed DFSP in young age. A 14-year-old white male patient came under our care for a slowly growing, pale brownish lesion on the neck skin. A biopsy specimen showed a DFSP. Subsequently, a wide surgery excision with 3 cm of resection margins including the underlying fascia was performed. To date, the patient has been in follow-up for 6 years without evidence of recurrent disease. The clinical features and treatment of DFSP diagnosed in childhood and adolescence reported in the published literature are reviewed to provide new insights about this rare entity. The aim is to emphasize the importance of biopsy for histologic evaluation in the cases that show a persistent or a large cutaneous plaque or nodule without pathognomonic clinical features that permit a clinical diagnosis. An accurate knowledge of the disease is the prerequisite for a wider recognition and appropriate treatment.

Atrophic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

BACKGROUND

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is an uncommon malignant mesenchymal tumor that arises in the dermis and is characterised by latency in its initial detection. As a rare form, atrophic or morphea-like DFSP has been documented. Atrophic DFSP resemble other benign lesions such as morphea, idiopathic atrophoderma, atrophic scar, anetoderma or lipoatrophy. It behaves like classic DFSP. It commonly favours young to middle aged adults. It has a slow infiltrative growth and a high rate of local recurrence if not completely excised. Metastases are rare and occur after repeated local recurrence. Surgical excision is the best line of treatment. Long term follow up is required to detect recurrence.

MAIN OBSERVATIONS

We report a case of atrophic DFSP in a 52-year-old female patient. Diagnosis was achieved according to clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. Tumor was surgically excised with safety margin and the patient is still under follow up.

CONCLUSIONS

Atrophic DFSP is a rare variant of DFSP. It is a tumor of low to moderate grade malignancy. Surgical excision is the best line of management. Long term follow up is necessary.

Unusual and recently described cutaneous atrophic disorders

Cutaneous atrophic conditions are typically caused by changes in the dermis or subcutaneous tissue, sometimes consisting of the loss of a single fiber type. Since a significant decrease of subepidermal tissue is necessary for these lesions to be macroscopically atrophic, many conditions may not be appreciated as atrophy in the clinical setting. Clinicians should be familiar with the common or classic disorders causing cutaneous atrophy; however, there are a few new or rarely described atrophic conditions which are more difficult to identify and may not be atrophic clinically. This paper serves to describe the salient clinical and histological features of these new or rare disorders.

Surgical management of congenital dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

Congenital dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare tumor with varying clinical presentations that is commonly misdiagnosed. Treatment of congenital DFSP is complicated by delays in diagnosis and its propensity for subclinical spread. Of 61 reported cases, 11 (18%) were treated with Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) and 46 (75%) were treated with wide local excision (WLE). One case was treated with imatinib, and the remaining 3 did not differentiate between receiving MMS or WLE. In the cases of congenital DFSP treated with MMS the clearance rate was 100% with an average follow-up of 4.3 years. The clearance rate seen with WLE was 89% with an average follow-up period of 1.9 years. The average margins taken during MMS (1.7 cm) were smaller than those taken with WLE (2.8 cm). Fifty percent of cases with available follow-up undergoing WLE required multiple surgeries. Based on superior cure rates with long-term follow-up, smaller surgical margins, and fewer surgical sessions, MMS should be considered as first-line treatment for congenital DFSP.

Congenital atrophic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in a 7-month-old boy treated with Mohs micrographic surgery

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a rare, malignant, slow-growing, locally invasive tumor of the skin. Although most cases are acquired and diagnosed in adulthood, there have been an increasing number of congenital dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans mimicking benign birthmarks described in the literature. The clinical presentation of this tumor is often one of an indurated exophytic plaque or nodule; however, a rare variant can present as atrophic or sclerotic in nature. We report a case of congenital atrophic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the groin in a 7-month-old boy, successfully treated with Mohs micrographic surgery.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with atrophic appearance at early stage of the tumor

We report a case of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) which had looked like an atrophic plaque on the face for 20 years and been diagnosed as morphea. At the late stage after subsequent development of a nodule, histopathological examinations including immunohistochemical stainings revealed the final diagnosis of DFSP. While DFSP is given typical "protuberant" morphology, our case indicates that DFSP sometimes appears as a non-protuberant lesion. Some reported variants of non-protuberant DFSP are suspected to be preceding features at the early stage of DFSP before the protuberant feature occurs. We should take this preprotuberant stage of DFSP into consideration of different diagnoses with non-protuberant lesions. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical stainings are necessary for an accurate and early diagnosis of DFSP.

Atrophic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: an uncommon and misleading variant

A 23-year-old man presented with an atrophic lesion on his left anterior shoulder that had been present for at least 10 years. A previous biopsy had suggested a fibrohistiocytic origin; however, clinically it resembled morphoea or atrophoderma, and the lesion was observed. Fifteen months later, the lesion was noted to have grown slightly. A repeat biopsy showed dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, with a storiform spindle cell proliferation with positive CD34 staining. The lesion was excised with a 3-cm margin. Awareness of this rare presentation may assist in earlier diagnosis.

Atrophic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: case report, review, and proposed molecular mechanisms

We report a case of atrophic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, an uncommon clinical variant. We discuss molecular and genetic mechanisms of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans tumorigenesis, review the literature on atrophic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, and pose a molecular mechanism for the atrophic variant's phenotype. We also describe using Mohs micrographic excision with CD34 immunostains on the frozen sections to definitively treat the tumor.

Genetics of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans family of tumors: from ring chromosomes to tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DP) is a rare, slow-growing, infiltrating dermal neoplasm of intermediate malignancy, made up of spindle-shaped tumor cells often positive for CD34. The preferred treatment is wide surgical excision with pathologically negative margins. At the cytogenetic level, DP cells are characterized by either supernumerary ring chromosomes, which have been shown by using fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques to be derived from chromosome 22 and to contain low-level amplified sequences from 17q22-qter and 22q10-q13.1, or t(17;22), that are most often unbalanced. Both the rings and linear der(22) contain a specific fusion of COL1A1 with PDGFB. Similar to other tumors, the COL1A1-PDGFB fusion is occasionally cryptic, associated with complex chromosomal rearrangements. Although rings have been mainly observed in adults, translocations have been reported in all pediatric cases. DP is therefore a unique example of a tumor in which (i) the same molecular event occurs either on rings or linear translocation derivatives, (ii) the chromosomal abnormalities display an age-related pattern, and (iii) the presence of the specific fusion gene is associated with the gain of chromosomal segments, probably taking advantage of gene dosage effects. In all DP cases that underwent molecular investigations, the breakpoint localization in PDGFB was found to be remarkably constant, placing exon 2 under the control of the COL1A1 promoter. In contrast, the COL1A1 breakpoint was found to be variably located within the exons of the alpha-helical coding region (exons 6-49). No preferential COL1A1 breakpoint and no correlation between the breakpoint location and the age of the patient or any clinical or histological particularity have been described. The COL1A1-PDGFB fusion is detectable by multiplex RT-PCR with a combination of forward primers designed from a variety of COL1A1 exons and one reverse primer from PDGFB exon 2. Recent studies have determined the molecular identity of "classical" DP, giant cell fibroblastoma, Bednar tumor, adult superficial fibrosarcoma, and the granular cell variant of DP. In approximately 8% of DP cases, the COL1A1-PDGFB fusion is not found, suggesting that genes other than COL1A1 or PDGFB might be involved in a subset of cases. It has been proposed that PDGFB acts as a mitogen in DP cells by autocrine stimulation of the PDGF receptor. It is encouraging that inhibitory effects of the PDGF receptor tyrosine kinase antagonist imatinib mesylate have been demonstrated in vivo; such targeted therapies might be warranted in the near future for treatment of the few DP cases not manageable by surgery.