Dermatofibroma Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis

A dermatofibroma is a skin tumor composed of oval cells appearing similar to histiocytes or spindle cells. For this reason it is also called a common fibrous histiocytoma in the most frequently observed form.

High magnification micrograph of an angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma, H&E stain. ©Nephron/ commons.wikimedia.org.

Clinical features

It is usually yellowish-brown and somewhat scaly. It is usually solitary, and grows up to 0.5-1 cm in size. The most common site for a dermatofibroma is an extremity, most frequently the leg.

The growth may have several different presentations, however. The surface may be any color between tan and red. The size is usually small, about a centimeter or so, but atypical cases may have a diameter of 5 cm or more. Though commonly solitary, in some individuals several dermatofibromatous tumors may be present. In some rare cases, usually in individuals with altered or autoimmune phenomena, multiple nodules occur, namely, 15 or more.

In addition to its typically solitary nature, dark color, and small size, a dermatofibroma is firm-to-hard to the touch, more so than most other benign growths of the skin, and its covering epidermis is tethered to it. As a result it dimples readily when the skin is lightly squeezed from the sides of the lesion. This is called the “dimple” or Fitzpatrick sign. The same dimpling occurs when it is exposed to sudden cold such as an ice cube, which makes the skin contract.

Though it is generally asymptomatic except for the bump it makes, it may cause itching and pain at times, and in cases associated with some degree of trauma, it may even ulcerate.  

Diagnosis

A dermatofibroma is diagnosed chiefly on the basis of its clinical features, namely, its firm feel and a positive pinch test. Dermoscopic examination will often show the characteristic pattern of peripheral reticular pigmentation with a central white spot. Excision biopsy will be required in cases which closely resemble other conditions. In such biopsies, the subcutaneous fat must also be removed.

The histopathologic features include hyperplasia of the epidermis and basal cell hyperpigmentation layer, which is called the ‘dirty fingernail’ sign. The tumor is in the dermis and is non-encapsulated. Whorls of spindle cells will be seen. However, several histological variants do occur, including cellular, aneurysmal, atrophic, and atypical dermatofibroma.

Immunohistochemical testing reveals antibodies to factor XIIIa in the tumor.

Differential diagnosis

There are several conditions that present with similar clinical features, and must be considered in the differential diagnosis. These include:

• Juvenile xanthogranuloma which is also firm to the feel
• Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans which may also present as one or more hard truncal nodules
• Squamous cell carcinoma or atypical fibroxanthoma if the lesion is ulcerated and infected

Other conditions include:

• Malignant melanoma
• Melanocytic nevus
• Blue nevus
• Spitz nevus
• Keratoacanthoma
• Keloid scar
• Hypertrophic scar
• Prurigo nodularis
• Metastatic carcinoma of the skin
• Neurilemmoma
• Pilomatrixoma

References

• https://patient.info/in/doctor/dermatofibroma-pro
• http://jdc.jefferson.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1025&context=dcbfp

Further Reading

• All Dermatofibroma Content
• Dermatofibroma Presentation
• Dermatofibroma Management and Prognosis
• All Skin Cancer Content
• What is Skin Cancer?

Written by

Dr. Liji Thomas

Dr. Liji Thomas is an OB-GYN, who graduated from the Government Medical College, University of Calicut, Kerala, in 2001. Liji practiced as a full-time consultant in obstetrics/gynecology in a private hospital for a few years following her graduation. She has counseled hundreds of patients facing issues from pregnancy-related problems and infertility, and has been in charge of over 2,000 deliveries, striving always to achieve a normal delivery rather than operative.