Challenging Patterns of Atypical Dermatofibromas and Promising Diagnostic Tools for Differential Diagnosis of Malignant Lesions
Dermatofibroma (DF) or fibrous histiocytoma is one of the most frequent benign cutaneous soft-tissue lesions, characterized by a post-inflammatory tissue reaction associated with fibrosis of the dermis. Clinically DFs have a polymorphous clinical aspect from the solitary, firm, single nodules to mul...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-02-01
|
| Series: | Diagnostics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/4/671 |
| _version_ | 1797621511679377408 |
|---|---|
| author | Olguța Anca Orzan Alexandra Maria Dorobanțu Cristian Dorin Gurău Sibel Ali Mara Mădălina Mihai Liliana Gabriela Popa Călin Giurcăneanu Irina Tudose Beatrice Bălăceanu |
| author_facet | Olguța Anca Orzan Alexandra Maria Dorobanțu Cristian Dorin Gurău Sibel Ali Mara Mădălina Mihai Liliana Gabriela Popa Călin Giurcăneanu Irina Tudose Beatrice Bălăceanu |
| author_sort | Olguța Anca Orzan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dermatofibroma (DF) or fibrous histiocytoma is one of the most frequent benign cutaneous soft-tissue lesions, characterized by a post-inflammatory tissue reaction associated with fibrosis of the dermis. Clinically DFs have a polymorphous clinical aspect from the solitary, firm, single nodules to multiple papules with a relatively smooth surface. However, multiple atypical clinicopathological variants of DFs have been reported and, therefore, clinical recognition may become challenging, leading to a more burdensome identification and sometimes to misdiagnosis. Dermoscopy is considered an important tool in DFs diagnosis, as it improves diagnostic accuracy for clinically amelanotic nodules. Although typical dermoscopic patterns are most frequently seen in clinical practice, there have also been some atypical variants described, mimicking some underlying recurrent and sometimes harmful skin afflictions. Usually, no treatment is required, although an appropriate work-up may be necessary in specific cases, such as in the presence of atypical variants or a history of recent changes. This narrative review’s aim is to summarize current evidence regarding clinical presentation, positive and differential diagnosis of atypical dermatofibromas and also to raise awareness about the importance of specific characteristics of atypical variants to better differentiate them from malignant conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:57:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7b4aead127854265a151a69d94c2226c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:57:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diagnostics |
| spelling | doaj.art-7b4aead127854265a151a69d94c2226c2023-11-16T20:01:17ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182023-02-0113467110.3390/diagnostics13040671Challenging Patterns of Atypical Dermatofibromas and Promising Diagnostic Tools for Differential Diagnosis of Malignant LesionsOlguța Anca Orzan0Alexandra Maria Dorobanțu1Cristian Dorin Gurău2Sibel Ali3Mara Mădălina Mihai4Liliana Gabriela Popa5Călin Giurcăneanu6Irina Tudose7Beatrice Bălăceanu8Dermatology Department, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaDermatology Department, “Elias” University Emergency Hospital, 011461 Bucharest, RomaniaOrthopedy and Traumatology Clinic, Clinical Emergency Hospital, 014451 Bucharest, RomaniaDermatology Department, “Elias” University Emergency Hospital, 011461 Bucharest, RomaniaDermatology Department, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaDermatology Department, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaDermatology Department, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaAnatomic Pathology Laboratory, “Elias” University Emergency Hospital, 011461 Bucharest, RomaniaDermatology Department, “Elias” University Emergency Hospital, 011461 Bucharest, RomaniaDermatofibroma (DF) or fibrous histiocytoma is one of the most frequent benign cutaneous soft-tissue lesions, characterized by a post-inflammatory tissue reaction associated with fibrosis of the dermis. Clinically DFs have a polymorphous clinical aspect from the solitary, firm, single nodules to multiple papules with a relatively smooth surface. However, multiple atypical clinicopathological variants of DFs have been reported and, therefore, clinical recognition may become challenging, leading to a more burdensome identification and sometimes to misdiagnosis. Dermoscopy is considered an important tool in DFs diagnosis, as it improves diagnostic accuracy for clinically amelanotic nodules. Although typical dermoscopic patterns are most frequently seen in clinical practice, there have also been some atypical variants described, mimicking some underlying recurrent and sometimes harmful skin afflictions. Usually, no treatment is required, although an appropriate work-up may be necessary in specific cases, such as in the presence of atypical variants or a history of recent changes. This narrative review’s aim is to summarize current evidence regarding clinical presentation, positive and differential diagnosis of atypical dermatofibromas and also to raise awareness about the importance of specific characteristics of atypical variants to better differentiate them from malignant conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/4/671dermatofibromaatypical fibrous histiocytomadermoscopybenign cutaneous tumours |
| spellingShingle | Olguța Anca Orzan Alexandra Maria Dorobanțu Cristian Dorin Gurău Sibel Ali Mara Mădălina Mihai Liliana Gabriela Popa Călin Giurcăneanu Irina Tudose Beatrice Bălăceanu Challenging Patterns of Atypical Dermatofibromas and Promising Diagnostic Tools for Differential Diagnosis of Malignant Lesions Diagnostics dermatofibroma atypical fibrous histiocytoma dermoscopy benign cutaneous tumours |
| title | Challenging Patterns of Atypical Dermatofibromas and Promising Diagnostic Tools for Differential Diagnosis of Malignant Lesions |
| title_full | Challenging Patterns of Atypical Dermatofibromas and Promising Diagnostic Tools for Differential Diagnosis of Malignant Lesions |
| title_fullStr | Challenging Patterns of Atypical Dermatofibromas and Promising Diagnostic Tools for Differential Diagnosis of Malignant Lesions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenging Patterns of Atypical Dermatofibromas and Promising Diagnostic Tools for Differential Diagnosis of Malignant Lesions |
| title_short | Challenging Patterns of Atypical Dermatofibromas and Promising Diagnostic Tools for Differential Diagnosis of Malignant Lesions |
| title_sort | challenging patterns of atypical dermatofibromas and promising diagnostic tools for differential diagnosis of malignant lesions |
| topic | dermatofibroma atypical fibrous histiocytoma dermoscopy benign cutaneous tumours |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/4/671 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT olgutaancaorzan challengingpatternsofatypicaldermatofibromasandpromisingdiagnostictoolsfordifferentialdiagnosisofmalignantlesions AT alexandramariadorobantu challengingpatternsofatypicaldermatofibromasandpromisingdiagnostictoolsfordifferentialdiagnosisofmalignantlesions AT cristiandoringurau challengingpatternsofatypicaldermatofibromasandpromisingdiagnostictoolsfordifferentialdiagnosisofmalignantlesions AT sibelali challengingpatternsofatypicaldermatofibromasandpromisingdiagnostictoolsfordifferentialdiagnosisofmalignantlesions AT maramadalinamihai challengingpatternsofatypicaldermatofibromasandpromisingdiagnostictoolsfordifferentialdiagnosisofmalignantlesions AT lilianagabrielapopa challengingpatternsofatypicaldermatofibromasandpromisingdiagnostictoolsfordifferentialdiagnosisofmalignantlesions AT calingiurcaneanu challengingpatternsofatypicaldermatofibromasandpromisingdiagnostictoolsfordifferentialdiagnosisofmalignantlesions AT irinatudose challengingpatternsofatypicaldermatofibromasandpromisingdiagnostictoolsfordifferentialdiagnosisofmalignantlesions AT beatricebalaceanu challengingpatternsofatypicaldermatofibromasandpromisingdiagnostictoolsfordifferentialdiagnosisofmalignantlesions |