Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP)

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP): Overview

What is dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans?

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: This raised, reddish-brown patch began as a small red lump that grew slowly.

Dermatofibrosarcoma (dur-mah-toe-fy-bro-sar-co-ma) protuberans (pro-to-bur-anz) (DFSP) is a rare skin cancer. It begins in the middle layer of skin, the dermis. DFSP tends to grow slowly. It seldom spreads to other parts of the body.

Because DFSP rarely spreads, this cancer has a high survival rate. Treatment is important, though. Without treatment, DFSP can grow deep into the fat, muscle, and even bone. If this happens, treatment can be difficult.

The first sign of this skin cancer is often a small bump on the skin. It may resemble a deep-seated pimple or rough patch of skin. DFSP can also look like a scar. In children, it may remind you of a birthmark.

Image used with permission of Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology: J Am Acad Dermatol 2005;53:76-83

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP): Signs and symptoms

Dermatofibroma: DFSP often looks like this harmless and common skin growth, a dermatofibroma.

DFSP on a child’s skin: In children, this skin cancer tends to resemble a birthmark.

DFSP: The first sign of this skin cancer may be reddish brown or pink patch of raised skin that looks like a scar.

DFSP: Given time to grow, many protuberans can appear on the surface of the skin.

Early signs and symptoms of DFSP

This skin cancer tends to grow slowly so it often goes unnoticed for months — or even years. When dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) first appears on the skin, a person may notice:

A pimple-like growth or rough patch of skin.
No pain or tenderness where the growth or patch forms.
Little change in the growth or patch.

As the skin cancer grows

As DFSP grows inside the middle layer of skin, it tends to push on the top layer of skin. You may see a lump, also known as a protuberan (pro-to-bur-an). The lump may feel hard or rubbery. As the lump grows, it stretches the skin. You may notice that the affected skin:

Becomes tender.
Cracks and bleeds.
Feels hard, and the lump seems cemented in the skin.

When a woman is pregnant, DFSP tends to grow more quickly.

Over time, more protuberans (lumps) can appear. Once these appear, DFSP tends to grow quickly. In adults, the protuberans often range in color from reddish brown to violet. In young patients, DFSP tends to be blue or red in color.

Where DFSP forms on the body

DFSP can form anywhere on the skin. It is, however, more likely to develop on the:

Trunk (chest, back, abdomen, shoulder, buttocks).
Arm or leg.

Few DFSPs form above the neck, but it is possible to find this skin cancer on the scalp or inside the mouth.

When to see a dermatologist

If you are worried about a growth on your skin, you should see a dermatologist. Many skin growths look alike. DFSP often looks like a harmless skin growth known as a dermatofibroma (shown above). This harmless skin growth rarely needs treatment. DFSP always requires treatment.

Dermatologists receive specialized training in diagnosing and treating skin cancer. This expertise is helpful when a person has a rare skin cancer like DFSP.

More common in younger people

DFSP tends to occur between the ages of 20 and 50.

Images used with permission of Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology:

J Am Acad Dermatol 2010;62:247-56.
J Am Acad Dermatol 2009;61:1014-23.
J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;49:761-4.
J Am Acad Dermatol 2002;46:408-13

References:
Bichakjian CK, Alam M, Andersen J et al. “Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: Clinical practice guidelines in oncology.” National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Version 2.2013.
Buck DW, Kim JY, Alam M, “Multidisciplinary approach to the management of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;67(5):861-6.
Checketts SR, Hamilton TK, Baughman RD. “Congenital and childhood dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a case report and review of the literature.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000;42(5 Pt 2):907-13.
Criscione VD, Weinstock MA. “Descriptive epidemiology of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in the United States, 1973 to 2002.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007;56(6):968-73.
Gloster HM. “Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 1996;35(3 Pt 1):355-74.
Halpern M, Chen E, Ratner D. “Sarcomas.” In Nouri K. [editor]. Skin Cancer. United States. McGraw Hill Medical; 2008. p. 217-18.
Irarrazaval I, Redondo P. “Three-dimensional histology for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: case series and surgical technique.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Nov;67(5):991-6.
Kurlander DE, Martires KJ, Chen Y et al. “Risk of subsequent primary malignancies after dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans diagnosis: a national study.” J Am Acad Dermatol 2013;68(5):790-6.
Meehan SA, Napoli JA, Perry AE. “Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the oral cavity.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 199;41(5 Pt 2):863-6.
Stivala A, Lombardo GA, Pompili G. “Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: Our experience of 59 cases.” Oncol Lett. 2012; 4(5): 1047–55.
Young RJ, Albertini JG. “Atrophic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: case report, review, and proposed molecular mechanisms.” J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;49:761-4.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP): Who gets and causes

Who gets DFSP?

People of all ages get this rare skin cancer. Most people are diagnosed when they are between 20 and 50 years of age.

Although unusual, children get DFSP. Sometimes, a child is born with DFSP. In newborns, this skin cancer often looks like a birthmark.

People of all races get DFSP. In looking at the U.S. cancer records, dermatologists discovered that between 1973 and 2002:

Blacks were slightly more likely than whites to get DFSP.
Among whites, those living in Hawaii had the highest incidence of DFSP.
Cases of DFSP are increasing; this increase is greatest among whites.

What causes DFSP?

Scientists do not yet know what causes DFSP.

In treating patients with DFSP, dermatologists have learned that this cancer sometimes begins on skin that was badly injured. The injured skin may have a scar from a burn or surgery. Sometimes, DFSP forms where a person received many radiation treatments or vaccines.

More research is needed to know whether a skin injury plays a role in causing DFSP.

References:
Buck DW, Kim JY, Alam M, “Multidisciplinary approach to the management of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;67(5):861-6.
Checketts SR, Hamilton TK, Baughman RD. “Congenital and childhood dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a case report and review of the literature.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000;42(5 Pt 2):907-13.
Criscione VD, Weinstock MA. “Descriptive epidemiology of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in the United States, 1973 to 2002.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007;56(6):968-73.
Halpern M, Chen E, Ratner D. “Sarcomas.” In Nouri K. [editor]. Skin Cancer. United States. McGraw Hill Medical; 2008. p. 217-18.
Stivala A, Lombardo GA, Pompili G. “Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: Our experience of 59 cases.” Oncol Lett. 2012; 4(5): 1047–55.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP): Diagnosis and treatment

How do dermatologists diagnose dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP)?

Your dermatologist will closely examine your skin. If your dermatologist suspects you have DFSP, you will need a skin biopsy. This is the only way to diagnose skin cancer. Your dermatologist can safely perform a skin biopsy during an office visit.

To perform a skin biopsy, your dermatologist will remove some of the tumor. What your dermatologist removes will be examined under a microscope. This magnified view allows a doctor to look for cancer cells.

Sometimes, a second skin biopsy is necessary to diagnose DFSP.

How do dermatologists treat DFSP?

If the diagnosis is DFSP, you will need a thorough physical exam. You may also need some medical tests. These tests provide the information necessary to create a treatment plan for DFSP.

Your dermatologist may create the treatment plan. Sometimes, doctors from different medical specialties team up to create the treatment plan. The doctors may include a dermatologist, surgical oncologist (cancer specialist), and plastic surgeon.

Most treatment plans include surgery to remove the cancer. Because DFSP can grow deep, other treatment may be necessary. A treatment plan for DFSP usually includes one of more of the following treatments:

Excision (surgery): During this surgery, the surgeon removes the tumor(s) and some surrounding tissue that looks healthy. Removing this tissue helps to catch cancer that may have traveled to an area that still looks healthy.

Mohs surgery: For many DFSP patients, Mohs (pronounced "Moes") surgery may be recommended. This specialized surgery is only used to treat skin cancer. This surgery allows the Mohs surgeon to remove less tissue than is removed during excision (the surgery described above.)

During Mohs surgery, the Mohs surgeon cuts out the tumor plus a very small amount of healthy-looking tissue surrounding the tumor. While the patient waits, the Mohs surgeon uses a microscope to look at what was removed. The surgeon is looking for cancer cells.

If the Mohs surgeon finds cancer cells at the edge of the removed tissue, the surgeon will remove another small amount of tissue and look at it under the microscope. This process continues until the surgeon no longer sees cancer cells along the edge of the removed tissue. Your Mohs surgeon may refer to this edge as the “margin.” When the Mohs surgeon no longer sees cancer cells along the edges, the surgeon may tell you that the “margins look clear.”

Reducing the risk of DFSP returning
When DFSP grows into the lower layer of skin, the cancer often spreads out like the roots of a plant. This root-like growth can make it difficult to remove all of the cancer.
To reduce the risk of DFSP returning after surgery, your dermatologist may include a second treatment. The second treatment helps to kill cancer cells.
Dermatologists also are studying new treatment options. One way to reduce DFSP from returning may be to treat patients with both excision and Mohs surgery. In one small study, the cancer did not return when patients received both excision and Mohs.
More research is needed to find out whether this can reduce the risk of DFSP returning.

Reconstructive surgery: DFSP can grow deep, so some patients need reconstructive surgery to repair the wound caused by the surgery.

Radiation treatments: After surgery, some patients receive radiation treatments. These treatments can destroy cancer cells. Because of the long-term risks involved in getting radiation treatments, doctors carefully consider the benefits and the risks of this treatment.

The results from a small study show that radiation may reduce the risk of DFSP from returning. Researchers followed 14 patients who received radiation treatments, mostly after surgery. Most patients, 86%, remained cancer-free. The average follow-up period exceeded 10 years.

When surgery is not possible

Some patients cannot undergo surgery. When this happens, other treatment options are used. Some patients have radiation treatments. Other options include:

Imatinib mesylate: This is a chemotherapy medicine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved this medicine to treat DFSP in adults when the cancer:

Cannot be treated with surgery.
Returns after treatment.
Has spread to other parts of the body.

Some chemotherapy medicines kill both cancerous and healthy cells. Imatinib mesylate works differently. It is designed to target specific cancer-causing molecules. This gives it the power to kill cancer cells while preventing serious damage to non-cancerous cells.

This medicine is not right for every patient who has DFSP. For this medicine to work, patients must have certain DNA. Testing is required to find out whether a patient has that DNA.

If your doctor prescribes imatinib mesylate, you will need to be carefully supervised.

After taking imatinib mesylate, some patients are able to have surgery because the drug shrinks the DFSP enough so that the cancer can be surgically removed.

Clinical trial: Some patients are encouraged to join a clinical trial. A clinical trial is a type of research study. This study tests how well new a treatment or a new way of treating a disease works. For some patients, joining a clinical trial may be the best treatment option.

What is the outcome (prognosis) for patients with DFSP?

This skin cancer rarely spreads to other parts of the body, so people often live for many years after treatment.

Lifelong follow-up with your doctors is essential though. DFSP can return after treatment. If DFSP returns, it is often treated with one of the surgeries described above. Some patients receive radiation treatments after surgery. Taking the drug imatinib mesylate may be an option for some patients.

It is very important to keep all follow-up appointments.

References:
Bichakjian CK, Alam M, Andersen J et al. “Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: Clinical practice guidelines in oncology.” National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Version 2.2013.
Buck DW, Kim JY, Alam M, “Multidisciplinary approach to the management of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;67(5):861-6.
Checketts SR, Hamilton TK, Baughman RD. “Congenital and childhood dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a case report and review of the literature.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000;42(5 Pt 2):907-13.
Gloster HM. “Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 1996;35(3 Pt 1):355-74.
Halpern M, Chen E, Ratner D. “Sarcomas.” In Nouri K. [editor]. Skin Cancer. United States. McGraw Hill Medical; 2008. p. 217-18.
Irarrazaval I, Redondo P. “Three-dimensional histology for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: case series and surgical technique.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Nov;67(5):991-6.
Love E, Keiler SA, Tamburro JE, et al. “Surgical management of congenital dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.” J Am Acad Dermatol 2009;61:1014-23.
Stivala A, Lombardo GA, Pompili G. “Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: Our experience of 59 cases.” Oncol Lett. 2012; 4(5): 1047–55.
Thornton SL, Reid J, Papay FA, et al. “Childhood dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: Role of preoperative imaging.” J Am Acad Dermatol 2005;53:76-83.
Williams N, Morris CG, Kirwam JM et al. “Radiotherapy for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.” Am J Clin Oncol. 2013, Feb 5. [Epub ahead of print]
Young RJ, Albertini JG. “Atrophic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: case report, review, and proposed molecular mechanisms.” J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;49:761-4

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP): Tips for managing

Findings from research studies suggest that patients treated for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) should:

Keep all follow-up appointments with your doctors. This skin cancer can return after treatment. If DFSP returns, it usually returns within 3 years of treatment. DFSP can return later, too. It has appeared 10 years or more after treatment.

Some patients develop new DFSPs or other skin cancers. For this reason, dermatologists recommend lifelong follow-up exams. These follow-up exams help find skin cancer in the earliest stage. The sooner skin cancer is found and treated, the more likely the cancer can be treated successfully.
Perform skin self-exams as often as your dermatologist recommends. If you have received treatment for DFSP, it is essential that you learn how to perform a skin self-exam. Your dermatologist or someone in your dermatologist’s office can teach you exactly what you need to know.
When examining your skin, you should immediately contact your dermatologist if you:
- Find any new growth or rough patch on your skin
- Feel a change in your lymph nodes
Think about joining a support group. Many people live long lives after receiving treatment for DFSP. Knowing that DFSP can return may be stressful. Some people who have had DFSP say a support group helps them feel better emotionally.
You may be able to find a local support group by asking your doctor or contacting a local hospital.
Ask your doctors what else you can do to improve your outcome. Asking questions can help you feel more in control. Your doctors may have insight that can help you feel better or reduce your risk for getting another cancer.

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