Desmoplastic fibroblastoma: a case presenting as a protruding nodule in the dermis

Abstract

Desmoplastic fibroblastoma is a rare, benign, soft tissue tumor. We describe a case of superficial desmoplastic fibroblastoma presenting as a protruding nodule. A 41-year-old woman presented with a painless, firm, elevated nodule with ulceration on her left thigh. Histological examination from total excision showed a well-circumscribed tumor in the dermis, which comprised of spindle, oval and stellate cells arranged in a haphazard fashion, accompanied by abundant collagenous stroma and inconspicuous vasculature. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for vimentin, and focally positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin and muscle-specific actin, but negative for CD34, S-100 protein, desmin and beta-catenin. We diagnosed this case as desmoplastic fibroblastoma arising in the dermis and superficial subcutaneous tissue.