Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans Follow-up

  • Author: from Memorial Sloan-Kettering - Chih-Shan Jason Chen, MD, PhD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jul 23, 2010
 

Further Outpatient Care

Because of the high local recurrence rate of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), patients require close follow-up care after treatment. Most recurrences occur within 3 years of the primary excision. Patients should be seen every 6 months during this period and annually thereafter.[16]

A literature review of DFSP case series treated with Mohs surgery shows that 50% of recurrences appear within the first 3 years after operation and 25% of local recurrences are detected after 5 years. A large case review from a series of 159 patients treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York) showed the medium time to the development of a local recurrence was 32 months. The indolent nature of DFSP requires lifelong surveillance for recurrence.[22]

In each follow-up visit, a complete history and a review of systems, as well as complete physical examinations, including skin examination and palpation of the excision site and regional lymph nodes, should be performed. An extensive workup is not warranted unless metastatic disease is suspected.

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Prognosis

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is characterized by its aggressive local invasion. The tumor invades local tissue by extending tentaclelike projections underneath healthy skin, rendering complete removal of the tumor very difficult. Incomplete removal of these neoplastic cells results in a high local recurrence rate.

Despite the local invasiveness, DFSP rarely metastasizes. For the classic form of DFSP, the risk is assumed to be only 0.5%. According to the literature, the overall risk for the development of metastatic disease is 5%, including 1% with regional lymph node metastasis and 4% with distant metastasis. Regional lymph node involvement represents a sign of poor prognosis; most patients die within 2 years. The lungs are the most common site of distant metastasis that occurs via hematogenous spread. Usually, metastatic disease is preceded by multiple local recurrences.[16]

The extent of surgical excision determines the prognosis for the patient. To reduce the local recurrence rate, a wide surgical excision with adequate margins or Mohs technique are used. The latter imparts a better outcome.

Histologic features of DFSP may also serve as prognostic indicators. A high number of mitotic figures, increased cellularity, DNA aneuploidy, TP53 gene overexpression, and the presence of fibrosarcomatous changes within the tumor are poor prognostic indicators. Of note, fibrosarcomatous variants of DFSP lacking a genetic marker of translocation between chromosomes 17 and 22 may not respond to imatinib. The loss of the t(17,22) cytogenetic marker in the fibrosarcomatous progression DFSP variant may represent progression of the malignancy.[1, 20, 43]

Age older than 50 years is also a risk factor associated with a poor clinical outcome.[22]

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Patient Education

Patients are advised to seek evaluation by a dermatologist if they have noticed a slow-growing skin lump or scarlike lesion on any part of their body.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

from Memorial Sloan-Kettering - Chih-Shan Jason Chen, MD, PhD  Associate Attending, Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Director, Dermatologic Surgery and Mohs Micrographic Surgery Unit, MSK Skin Cancer Center; Chief, Dermatologic Surgery, Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center

from Memorial Sloan-Kettering - Chih-Shan Jason Chen, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Association of Professors of Dermatology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Daniel Mark Siegel, MD, MS  Director, Procedural Dermatology Fellowship Program, Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, State University of New York Downstate

Daniel Mark Siegel, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, American College of Physician Executives, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, and International Society for Dermatologic Surgery

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Abdul-Ghani Kibbi, MD  Professor and Chair, Department of Dermatology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael J Wells, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine

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.

John G Albertini, MD  Consulting Staff, Dermatologic Surgery, The Skin Surgery Center; Program Director, ACGME Accredited Fellowship in Procedural Dermatology

John G Albertini, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M 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, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous Chief Editor, William D. James, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

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Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans manifesting as an irregular red-to-violaceous plaque on the chest.
Closer view of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. It has an irregular surface and borders with palpable dermal and subcutaneous induration.
A large dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is seen on the abdomen. It has an appearance of atrophic plaque, while foci of nodularity also can be seen.
Bednar tumor, a pigmented variant of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, contains melanin-rich dendritic cells scattered among neoplastic spindle-shaped cells.
A featureless reddish brown plaque on the arm of a white female. Another example of Bednar tumor.
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) tumor cells take over the dermis and subcutaneous adipose tissue and then approach the fascia plane. The tumor nodule manifests with high cellularity. Under histopathologic examination, these DFSP tumor cells are spindle shaped. They tend to grow in a storiform pattern in the center portion of the tumor. They may also grow in a diffuse infiltrative pattern at the periphery, forming a honeycomb pattern. Often, no defined border can be recognized between the tumor and normal tissue.
Higher-power view of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans reveals subcutaneous adipocytes entrapped by densely infiltrative spindle-shaped tumor cells.
DFSP demonstrates strong CD34 staining with immunohistochemistry.
 
 
 
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