What is the Difference Between Dermatofibroma and Dermatofibrosarcoma

The key difference between dermatofibroma and dermatofibrosarcoma is that dermatofibroma is a common benign knot of fibrous tissue that occurs in the skin, while dermatofibrosarcoma is a rare soft tissue tumor that occurs in the dermis, subcutaneous fat, muscle, and fascia.

Skin conditions are the diseases affecting the skin of the human body. Most skin conditions have no known cause, while other skin conditions are due to causes such as sun exposure, genetics, and microbial contact. There are many different conditions that can affect the structure and function of the skin. Dermatofibroma and dermatofibrosarcoma are two conditions that can affect the skin.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Dermatofibroma 
3. What is Dermatofibrosarcoma
4. Similarities – Dermatofibroma and Dermatofibrosarcoma
5. Dermatofibroma vs. Dermatofibrosarcoma in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Dermatofibroma vs. Dermatofibrosarcoma

What is Dermatofibroma?

Dermatofibroma is a common skin growth. It is most often found on the arms and legs of women. It can also occur in the trunk and elsewhere in the body. The signs and symptoms of dermatofibroma may include a round bump that is mostly under the skin, a bump that is about 0.5 – 1.5 cm, a bump that is generally pink, red, gray, brown, or black in color and harmless, and painless skin growths. This condition is caused by the accumulation of extra cells within the deeper layers of the skin due to local trauma. The risk factors for dermatofibroma may include sex (women), advanced age, and underlying conditions such as lupus erythematosus.

Dermatofibroma can be diagnosed through physical examination, pinch test, dermatoscopy, and skin biopsy. Furthermore, treatment options for dermatofibroma may include surgical removal, freezing the growth with liquid nitrogen, injecting it with corticosteroids, or using laser procedures.

What is Dermatofibrosarcoma?

Dermatofibrosarcoma is a rare soft tissue tumor. Dermatofibrosarcoma starts in connective tissue cells in the middle layer of the dermis of the skin. It is often found on the arms, legs, and trunk. The signs and symptoms of dermatofibrosarcoma may include a firm bump of tissue appearing on the skin, a bump that is easy to crack open or bleed, a bump that is not movable, a bump that is getting bigger, hard, or rubbery, a bump that is reddish brown to violet, blue or red in color, a bump that is painful and itchy. An acquired gene mutation causes Dermatofibrosarcoma. Moreover, risk factors for this condition include skin injury or scars, burns, radiation therapy, surgical incisions, and tattoos.

Dermatofibrosarcoma can be diagnosed through physical examination, skin biopsy, and imaging tests such as MRI. Furthermore, treatment options for dermatofibrosarcoma surgery to remove cancer are Mohs surgery, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy.

What are the Similarities Between Dermatofibroma and Dermatofibrosarcoma?

• Dermatofibroma and dermatofibrosarcoma are two conditions that can affect the skin.
• Both conditions can start from the dermis of the skin.
• Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination, imaging tests, and biopsy.
• They can be treated through surgical removal.

What is the Difference Between Dermatofibroma and Dermatofibrosarcoma?

Dermatofibroma is a common benign knot of fibrous tissue in the skin, while dermatofibrosarcoma is a rare soft tissue tumor in the dermis, subcutaneous fat, muscle, and fascia. Thus, this is the key difference between dermatofibroma and dermatofibrosarcoma. Furthermore, dermatofibroma is caused by the accumulation of extra cells within the deeper layers of the skin due to local trauma. On the other hand, dermatofibrosarcoma is caused by an acquired gene mutation.

The infographic below presents the differences between dermatofibroma and dermatofibrosarcoma in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Dermatofibroma vs. Dermatofibrosarcoma

Dermatofibroma and dermatofibrosarcoma are two conditions that can affect the skin. They can start from the dermis of the skin. However, dermatofibroma is a common benign knot of fibrous tissue in the skin, while dermatofibrosarcoma is a rare soft tissue tumor in the dermis, subcutaneous fat, muscle, and fascia. So, this summarizes the difference between dermatofibroma and dermatofibrosarcoma.

Reference:

1. “Dermatofibroma.” StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf.
2. “Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Dermatofibroma” By (CC BY 2.0 DEED) Ed Uthman
2. “Histopathology of cartwheel pattern in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, original” By Mikael Häggström, M.D.  – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia