Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans metastatic to the lung. A case report.

A case is presented of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the gluteal region with metastasis to the lung appearing 7 years after wide excision of the primary lesion. The world literature is reviewed. The clinical and pathologic features of dermatofibrosarcoma are reviewed and treatment is discussed, with the aim of emphasizing the need for long-term follow-up examination of lymph nodes and for metastases following wide excision of these lesions.     

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of scalp with cervical lymph node metastasis

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is an uncommon, slow growing and locally aggressive tumor of the skin with a high rate of recurrence even after supposedly wide excision. The reports of regional lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis are very rare. Because of the extreme rarity of these cases with metastasis, the experience with management of such patients is very limited. A case of recurrent DFSP of scalp, with metastasis to the regional lymph nodes, in a 17-year-old boy is reported here. This is the second case of DFSP involving scalp and 16th case of DFSP of all sites metastasizing to the regional lymph nodes reported in literature. The patient was treated with wide excision of the lesion and ipsilateral radical neck dissection (including excision of overlying involved skin).     

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a surgical disease with a molecular savior

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a low-grade malignancy of the skin and subcutaneous tissues with low potential for the development of distant metastases. This tumor is characterized by infiltrative growth, and a chromosomal translocation involving the COL1A1 gene on chromosome 17 and the gene platelet-derived growth factor B gene on chromosome 22. This review will examine recent data confirming the central role of surgery in managing this disease and new findings for the application of molecularly targeted therapy in patients with unresectable disease. RECENT FINDINGS: The largest published series of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans cases has reported that surgery can lead to excellent local control in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in over 95% of cases. In patients with metastatic disease, or with locally advanced disease not suitable for surgical excision, inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor receptors with imatinib (Gleevec) can lead to striking clinical results, including complete responses in some patients. SUMMARY: The identification of platelet-derived growth factor B as a near universal translocation partner in chromosomal rearrangements in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans has led to the successful application of therapy targeted at platelet-derived growth factor receptors. Although wide surgical excision remains the standard of care, patients with locally advanced disease not suitable for wide surgical excision or with metastatic disease can be managed with the platelet-derived growth factor receptors inhibitor imatinib with high probability of response.     

隆突性皮肤纤维肉瘤18例临床分析

目的　探讨隆突性皮肤纤维肉瘤 (DFSP)术后复发的因素。方法　回顾性分析 18例隆突性皮肤纤维肉瘤诊治过程及复发情况。结果　 7例隆突性皮肤纤维肉瘤行扩大根治切除术 ,复发率为 43 % ;11例行扩大切除加术后局部放疗 ,复发率为 18%。同时DFSP复发与组织学分级显著相关。结论　对隆突性皮肤纤维肉瘤认识不足 ,首次手术切除不彻底 ,扩大根治不规范 ,术后未行放疗及瘤细胞分化程度低是其复发的主要因素。     

Intracranial recurrence and distant metastasis of scalp dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

Only few cases of scalp dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with intracranial and distant metastasis have been reported. Here we report a case of scalp dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with frequent local recurrence, intracranial invasion and with distant lung metastasis during 6 years of treatment. We would like to emphasize difficulties in surgical treatment of such invasive and locally recurrent tumors of scalp, and necessity to understand new molecular pathogenesis of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and potential treatment strategy with imatinib for patients with surgically untreatable disease. Close surveillance of patients with scalp dermatofibrosarcoma is necessary due recurrence nature of tumor.     

Surgical treatment of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. A retrospective study of 20 cases with review of literature

The clinicopathological features and results of surgical treatment of 20 patients with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) were reviewed. All patients have been observed until the present time or death. The primary treatment usually consisted of marginal, wide or radical excision. Re-excision because of recurrence was performed in six of the 20 patients who were treated primarily only by marginal excision. Following re-excision two patients have remained disease-free until the present, the other four of these six patients had a second recurrence. Three of these four patients with a second relapse were successfully treated by excision. Although six patients out of 20 had 13 recurrences at the site of primary therapy, no patient developed lymph node or distant metastases. To date, none of the remaining 14 patients has had recurrence, all having been treated by excision of from 1 to 5 cm, the mean follow-up time was 8.75 years. Based on our data, the high recurrence rate after marginal surgical treatment implies an initial radical resection.     

A ten-year-old boy with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the face

A rare case of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans on the face of a 10-year-old boy is presented. The patient's young age and the localization of the tumor led to limited excisions that resulted in two local recurrences. Primary wide excision with 2.5 cm of free margins is recommended to avoid local recurrences that are otherwise frequent.     

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: treatment results of 35 cases.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study evaluates the treatment results of patients with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between August 1987 and July 1998, 35 consecutive patients with pathologically proved dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans received surgery with or without radiation therapy. Their treatment results were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The patient ages ranged from 5 to 67 years (median 37 years). There were 24 males and 11 females. The anatomic sites of tumor were: trunk in 21, extremity in eight, and head and neck region in six. The maximal dimension of tumor ranged from 1.5 to 25 cm. Surgery techniques included local excision and wide excision with or without graft or flap. Adjuvant radiation therapy was given to 11 patients, with a dose ranging from 46 to 68 Gy (one pre-operative, ten post-operative). At a median follow-up of 50 months (range 11-131 months), there were 11 patients (nine patients without radiation therapy) who developed local failure. Salvage therapy (excision with or without radiation therapy) was given to all of them, and ten achieved disease control. Some patients had treatment-related moderate cosmetic or functional problems. CONCLUSIONS: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a malignancy of a high cure rate, and adjuvant radiation therapy can reliably decrease the local recurrence rate and prevent mutilation and functional deficit caused by repeated surgery.     

Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans and Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma: Coincidental Occurrence or Genetic Association?

A case of multiple malignancies in a 41 year old African American man is described. After surgical excision and radiotherapy of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, the patient developed small bowel adenocarcinoma. We propose a common etiology to these canceres via tumor suppressor gene p53.     

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is an intermediate-grade sarcoma that arises in the dermis of the trunk, proximal extremities, and less commonly, in the head and neck area of adults. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans has a deceptively innocuous early clinical appearance and generally exhibits an indolent course for years before entering a rapid growth phase. Its locally invasive behavior results in early recurrence if prompt, wide excision is not performed. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans rarely metastasizes through the bloodstream or, less often, to locoregional lymph nodes after multiple local recurrences. Fibrosarcomatous areas within the tumor result in a more aggressive course. Although wide excision is the mainstay of therapy, recent trials using the Mohs' surgical approach suggest that this technique may have a role in the future treatment of this tumor.     

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans treated by micrographic surgery

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is an uncommon cutaneous tumour which rarely metastasises. However, local recurrence following apparently adequate surgical excision is well recognised, presumably as a result of sub-clinical contiguous growth, for which micrographically controlled excision would be a logical treatment. A retrospective study of all patients treated by micrographic surgery, from April 1995-March 2000, at a tertiary skin oncology centre. Twenty-one patients (11 males), age 14 to 71 years with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans on the trunk (10 patients), groin (four), head and neck (four), and limbs (three) were treated. In 15 patients one micrographic layer cleared the tumour, and four were cleared with two layers. For one patient the second stage was completed by conventional excision guided by positive margins. Another patient with a multiply recurrent perineal dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, not cleared in one area after two layers, died from a pulmonary embolus before total clearance could be achieved. There was no correlation between tumour size and lateral excision margin. No recurrence was observed during the follow-up, from 21 to 80 months, median 47 months. The study provides further support for micrographic surgery as the treatment of choice for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.     

Soft tissue sarcoma in the head and neck--analysis of 87 patients

From 1964 to 1984, 87 patients with soft tissue sarcoma (excluding lymphreticulum system sarcoma) in the head and neck were treated in our hospital. All were proved by pathology. The incidence rate of fibrosarcoma was the highest (36.8%), hemangiosarcoma the lowest (5.8%). There was no liposarcoma or synovial sarcoma in this group. The most frequently involved site was the area near the nasal cavity and maxillary sinus for fibrosarcoma (66%), the base of tongue for hemangiosarcoma (60%), scalp for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (54%), parapharyngeal space and soft tissue of the neck for neurogenic sarcoma (45%). Metastasis rate to the lymph nodes was 16-20% for rhabdomyosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma and malignant fibrohistiocyte tumor. No distant metastasis was found in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and malignant fibrohistiocyte tumor. Distant metastasis rate was 10-20% for the other types. Local recurrence rate was 9.1% for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, 88.9% for malignant fibrohistiocyte tumor, 30-66.7% for the other sarcomas. The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 20% and 0%, 37.5% and 0%, 91.6% and 91.6% for rhabdomyosarcoma, malignant fibrohistiocyte tumor and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. There were differences in clinical behavior for soft tissue sarcomas in the head, neck and in the trunk. Highly malignant sarcomas, such as liposarcoma, synovial sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma were rare in the head and neck but the low malignant sarcomas in the head and neck were 3-10 times as common as those in the trunk. Distant metastasis rate of the fibrosarcoma was 20% in head and neck and 6.7%in trunk, the 5- and 10-year survival rates were 36% and 77.9%, 25% and 73.6%, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

We report the case a 69-year-old woman with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, present, apparently, since birth. To our knowledge, this case represents the longest reported duration of a dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.     

Metastatic potential of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with fibrosarcomatous change

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a relatively uncommon fibrohistiocytic tumor that is locally aggressive. DFSP is associated with frequent local recurrences but rarely metastasizes. It has been suggested that fibrosarcomatous change within a dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP-FS) is associated with increased risk of local recurrence and distant metastases. Metastases remain rare, however, and are typically preceded by multiple local recurrences. We report a rare case of a DFSP-FS metastasis to the head of the pancreas without any preceding local recurrence.     

隆突性皮肤纤维肉瘤85例临床分析

目的：探讨隆突性皮肤纤维肉瘤的临床特点和治疗方法。方法：回顾性分析85例隆突性皮肤纤维肉瘤临床诊治过程。结果：85例隆突性皮肤纤维肉瘤行扩大切除术45例，扩大切除加植皮或转移皮瓣修补术34例，术前放疗2例，术后合并放疗10例，全组病例复发率为64．7％，5例死于肿瘤转移，结论：隆突性皮肤纤维肉瘤是皮肤低度恶性肿瘤，复发率高，首次治疗时彻底切除极为关键，外科手术是其主要的治疗方法，治疗作为辅助治疗有一定疗效。     

Arsenic exposure followed by the development of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

A case of documented significant arsenic exposure followed by the development of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is reported. Exposure to arsenic is associated with an increased chance of the subsequent development of a variety of neoplasms. It is possible that dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans may be one such tumor.     

74例隆突型皮肤纤维肉瘤的治疗与预后分析

Objective： To study treatment and prognostic factor in 74 patients with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. Methods： From August 1990 to November 1999, 74 patients with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans （DFSP） confirmed by pathology were treated in Cancer Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. 72 cases were given wide excision and 2 cases were given local excision. All of 74 cases, 52 cases had surgical resection alone, and 22 cases had surgical resection combined with radiotherapy. Total dose of radiotherapy was 50-70 Gy. Results： The rate of recurrence was 36.1% for all patients. The 5-year recurrence-free survival （RFS） rate was 66%. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rates for resection alone and combined with radiotherapy were 58% and 90%, respectively （P=-0.0187）. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rates for positive microscopic margins and negative microscopic margins were 57% and 75%, respectively （P=0.0468）. Conclusion： Post-operation radiotherapy is an effective treatment to decrease the recurrence rate for the patients with positive microscope, or the patients without suitable surgical treatment.     

Dermatofibrosarcome de Darier-Ferrand: deux cas à localisation cervicofaciale

The authors illustrate the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties encountered with Darier and Ferrand dermatofibrosarcoma from 2 cases report. Patients were 40 and 31 years old. In the first case, the tumour had been evolving for 4 years and occupied the submandibular region. In the second case, it had been evolving for 14 years and was localized in the parotido-submandibular region. The two patients benefitted from at least a biopsy or a partial surgical gesture before admission in our service. Surgical excision was wide. Both patients are alive after 4 and 2 years without recurrence and metastasis. Darier and Ferrand dermatofibrosarcoma is a cutaneous tumour of local malignancy, often diagnosed after several recurrences. The best treatment is surgery and consists in a wide and deep excision sacrificing healthy tissue.     

Dermatofibrosarcome de Darrier et Ferrand: une localisation mammaire

Introduction

The dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFP) is a rare skin tumor. It represents 0.1% of the malignant skin tumor. Surgery is its only treatment. The breast involvement is exceptional.

Observation

A 32-year-old woman was referred for a right breast nodule lasting for 5 years. The diagnosis of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFP) was confirmed by biopsy. The treatment was based on a large tumor excision.

Discussion

Breast localization of DFP remains rare and is difficult to treat. The breast is a part of women’s aesthetic identity. The excision margins remain a debatable subject.     

Molecular targeting of platelet-derived growth factor B by imatinib mesylate in a patient with metastatic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

PURPOSE: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is caused by activation of the platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGFB) receptor, a transmembrane tyrosine kinase. We investigated the response of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A patient with unresectable, metastatic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans received imatinib mesylate (400 mg bid). Response to therapy was assessed by [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and histopathologic and immunohistochemical evaluation. RESULTS: The patient was treated for 4 months with imatinib mesylate. The hypermetabolic uptake of FDG fell to background levels within 2 weeks of treatment, and the tumor volume shrank by over 75% during the 4 months of therapy, allowing for resection of the mass. There was no residual viable tumor in the resected specimen, indicating a complete histologic response to treatment with imatinib mesylate. CONCLUSION: Imatinib mesylate is highly active in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. The dramatic response seen in this patient demonstrates that inhibition of PDGFB receptor tyrosine kinase activity can significantly impact viability of at least one type of solid tumor.