Dermatofibroma

by Glenda Wright MBBCh and Allison Osmond MD FRCPC
March 9, 2023

What is a dermatofibroma?

A dermatofibroma is a very common type of non-cancerous skin tumour. The tumour is made up of a combination of fibroblastic cells, histiocytes, and a type of connective tissue called collagen. The tumour develops in a layer of skin called the dermis. Another name for a dermatofibroma is benign fibrous histiocytoma.

What are the symptoms of a dermatofibroma?

Most dermatofibromas grow slowly, have a pink to brown colour, and are usually small and painless.

What causes a dermatofibroma?

Some dermatofibromas appear to develop after trauma, an insect bite, or prolonged inflammation of the skin. However, most tumours develop without any preceding event and the cause remains unknown.

Can a dermatofibroma turn into cancer over time?

No. A dermatofibroma is a non-cancerous tumour that will not turn into cancer over time. However, tumours that are not completely removed can re-grow.

What are the types of dermatofibroma?

Pathologists divide dermatofibroma into types based on how the tumours look when examined under a microscope. The most common types of dermatofibroma include aneurysmal, cellular, deep, clear cell, lipidized, palisaded, and myxoid. Unlike other types of dermatofibromas, epithelioid type dermatofibromas contain a genetic change involving the ALK gene and as a result, may be a separate entity.

How is the diagnosis of dermatofibroma made?

The diagnosis is usually made after the entire tumour has been surgically removed and sent to a pathologist for examination under a microscope.  Sometimes, your doctor will remove a small piece of the tumour in a procedure called a biopsy before removing the entire tumour.

What does a dermatofibroma look like under the microscope?

Under the microscope, dermatofibromas are made up of long thin cells that pathologists call spindle cells. These spindle cells look very similar to the fibroblasts and histiocytic cells normally found in a layer of the skin called the dermis. Giant cells, which are histiocytes that have joined together to form one large cell, are also seen. It can be very challenging for a pathologist to make the diagnosis of dermatofibroma after only examining a small piece of the tumour because there are other types of tumours that can look very similar to dermatofibroma. In this case, your pathologist may offer a list of possible diagnoses which includes dermatofibroma. A final diagnosis will be given after the entire tumour is removed and examined.