What is a dermatofibroma?
A dermatofibroma is a common benign fibrous skin lesion.
A dermatofibroma is also sometimes called a fibrous histiocytoma. It is due to a non-cancerous growth of dermal dendritic histiocyte cells. In some cases it arises at the site of a minor injury, especially an insect bite or thorn prick. The cause is unknown; whether it is due to a neoplasm or reactive process is debated.
What does it look like?
Dermatofibromas most often occur on the legs and arms. Once developed, they usually persist for years. They appear as firm-feeling nodules, often yellow-brown in colour, sometimes pink and sometimes quite dark, especially in dark coloured skin. If the skin over a dermatofibroma is squeezed a dimple forms, indicating tethering of the skin to the underlying fibrous tissue.
It is not uncommon for people to have several dermatofibromas. Occasionally dozens may erupt within a few months, in the setting of immunosuppression (for example autoimmune disease, cancer or certain medications).
Biopsy of dermatofibroma
- lipidized ankle-type
What is the treatment for dermatofibroma?
A dermatofibroma is of cosmetic significance only and although it tends to persist long term, it seldom causes any symptoms. Usually only reassurance is needed. Sometimes its dark colour can raise anxiety about melanoma; if there is any doubt about its nature, the lesion can be excised for histology.
Other techniques are freezing the lump with liquid nitrogen to flatten it out but this is rarely completely successful and may leave a white mark behind.
On DermNet NZ:
- Dermatofibroma – pathology
- Epithelioid histiocytoma – pathology
- Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Fibrous papule of the nose
- Dermal and subcutaneous tumours – common skin lesions course