Surgical margins of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: case report and literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare dermal fibrohistiocytic tumor that affects the skin, accounting for 1% of soft tissue sarcomas and representing less than0.1% of all malignancies. The main characteristic of this type of tumor is a high rate of local recurrence after surgical excision. Deciding the proper surgical margin for complete resection is a challenge. Case report: 24 year-old, shows a reddish vegetative asymptomatic tumor on the left shoulder. She has a positive family history of DFSP in the lower limb. The definitive histopathological report confirmed Dermatofibrossarcoma protuberans. Discussion: The histological feature of the tumor is the presence of tentacle type projections of neoplastic cells in the periphery extending through the subcutaneous tissue to the muscular fascia. Of course, the most important factor for local control is the achievement of free surgical margins. Excision through Mohs micrographic surgery is a great option in regions where wide excision is not desirable, as in the face. The standard margin in most pf the literature is 3 cm resected to the muscular fascia, and it can be reduced to 2 cm in places where the extensive excision impairs the conformation of the site, as in the face.