eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Benign Neoplasms

Fibrous Papule of the Face

Author: Simone Laube, MD, MRCP, Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, UK
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Feb 26, 2009

Introduction

Background

Fibrous papule of the face is a benign, clinically indistinct papule.

Pathophysiology

In the past, fibrous papule has been suggested to have been derived from preexisting or involuting melanocytic nevi; however, subsequent investigations appear to have refuted this and have confirmed a relationship to factor XIIIa – positive dermal dendrocytes. Fibrous papule is best considered a variant of angiofibroma.1

Frequency

International

The condition is relatively common.

Mortality/Morbidity

Fibrous papule of the face is a benign lesion. Most of the lesions are asymptomatic, although one third of patients have reported bleeding following minor trauma.

Race

No racial predilection is known.

Sex

Both sexes are equally affected.

Age

Most of the patients are in their third to fifth decade of life.

Clinical

History

Family history is not considered relevant.

Physical

The lesions are clinically indistinct. Fibrous papules are usually dome-shaped lesions with a shiny, skin-colored appearance. Occasionally, lesions are sessile, polypoid, or papillomatous. Most of the lesions are firm and indurated. Size usually ranges from 1-5 mm in diameter.

Fibrous papule of the face usually occurs as single lesion, but, occasionally, several lesions may be present.

Fibrous papule of the nose. Courtesy of San Anton...

Fibrous papule of the nose. Courtesy of San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium Dermatology slide files.

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Fibrous papule of the nose. Courtesy of San Anton...

Fibrous papule of the nose. Courtesy of San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium Dermatology slide files.


Most lesions are located on the nose and, less commonly, on the cheeks, chin, neck, and, rarely, on the lip or forehead. Similar papules may be present on the fingers or oral mucosa, where they have been described as reactive nodular hyperplasia or giant cell fibroma.

Causes

See Pathophysiology.

More on Fibrous Papule of the Face

Overview: Fibrous Papule of the Face
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Fibrous Papule of the Face
Treatment & Medication: Fibrous Papule of the Face
Follow-up: Fibrous Papule of the Face
Multimedia: Fibrous Papule of the Face
References
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References

  1. Nemeth AJ, Penneys NS, Bernstein HB. Fibrous papule: a tumor of fibrohistiocytic cells that contain factor XIIIa. J Am Acad Dermatol. Dec 1988;19(6):1102-6. [Medline].

  2. Tope WD, Sangueza OP. Rhinophyma's fibrous variant. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Am J Dermatopathol. Jun 1994;16(3):307-10. [Medline].

  3. Odell EW, Lock C, Lombardi TL. Phenotypic characterisation of stellate and giant cells in giant cell fibroma by immunocytochemistry. J Oral Pathol Med. Jul 1994;23(6):284-7. [Medline].

  4. Kucher C, McNiff JM. Epithelioid fibrous papule - a new variant. J Cutan Pathol. Jul 2007;34(7):571-5. [Medline].

  5. Lee AN, Stein SL, Cohen LM. Clear cell fibrous papule with NKI/C3 expression: clinical and histologic features in six cases. Am J Dermatopathol. Aug 2005;27(4):296-300. [Medline].

  6. Park HS, Cho S, Kim KH, Won CH. Fibrous papule of the face, clear cell type: a case report. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. Oct 2007;21(9):1267-8. [Medline].

  7. Bansal C, Stewart D, Li A, Cockerell CJ. Histologic variants of fibrous papule. J Cutan Pathol. Jul 2005;32(6):424-8. [Medline].

  8. Calonje E, MacKie RM. Soft-Tissue Tumours and Tumour-like Conditions. In: Burns T, Breathnach S, Cox N, Griffiths C, eds. Rook's Textbook of Dermatology. Vol 3. 7th ed. London, England: Blackwell Science; 2004:53.

  9. Cerio R, Rao BK, Spaull J, Jones EW. An immunohistochemical study of fibrous papule of the nose: 25 cases. J Cutan Pathol. Aug 1989;16(4):194-8. [Medline].

  10. Cintra ML, de Souza EM. Focal acantholytic dyskeratosis: a snare for the pathologist. Report of two cases associated to psoriasis and fibrous papule of the nose. Rev Paul Med. Sep-Oct 1992;110(5):237-40. [Medline].

  11. Fibrous papules and nevocellular nevi. J Am Acad Dermatol. Apr 1984;10(4):670-1. [Medline].

  12. Graham JH, Sanders JB, Johnson WC, Helwig EB. Fibrous papule of the nose: a clinicopathological study. J Invest Dermatol. Sep 1965;45(3):194-203. [Medline].

  13. Guitart J, Bergfeld WF, Tuthill RJ. Fibrous papule of the nose with granular cells: two cases. J Cutan Pathol. Aug 1991;18(4):284-7. [Medline].

  14. Meigel WN, Ackerman AB. Fibrous papule of the face. Am J Dermatopathol. Winter 1979;1(4):329-40. [Medline].

  15. Saylan T, Marks R, Jones EW. Fibrous papule of the nose. Br J Dermatol. Aug 1971;85(2):111-8. [Medline].

  16. Shea CR, Salob S, Reed JA, Lugo J, McNutt NS. CD34-reactive fibrous papule of the nose. J Am Acad Dermatol. Aug 1996;35(2 Pt 2):342-5. [Medline].

  17. Spiegel J, Nadji M, Penneys NS. Fibrous papule: an immunohistochemical study with an antibody to S-100 protein. J Am Acad Dermatol. Sep 1983;9(3):360-2. [Medline].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

fibrous papule of the face, nevus, nevi, nodule, benign skin tumour, reactive nodular hyperplasia, giant cell fibroma

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Simone Laube, MD, MRCP, Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, UK
Simone Laube, MD, MRCP is a member of the following medical societies: British Association of Dermatologists
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

James Fulton Jr, MD, PhD, Medical Director, Fulton Skin Institute
James Fulton Jr, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American Academy of Dermatology, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Jeffrey Meffert, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology, University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio
Jeffrey Meffert, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Texas Dermatological Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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