Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans Found Within Procedural Scars: A Retrospective Review at a Tertiary Referral Cancer...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Surgical scars are an underrecognized risk factor for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP).
• DFSP can arise in sites of previous surgical intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of DFSP arising within surgical scars.
• To investigate the association between prior surgical procedures and DFSP development.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of biopsy-proven DFSP cases from January 2000 to April 2018 at a tertiary cancer center.
• Data collection included patient demographics, DFSP characteristics, and history of prior surgery at the tumor site.
• 364 eligible patients with DFSP were analyzed.

Main Results:

• 10.1% of DFSP cases (37 patients) were associated with prior surgical scars.
• 8.5% of DFSP arose after minor procedures (biopsy, excision) for benign or inflammatory conditions.
• 1.6% of DFSP developed in scars from major surgical procedures, including laparoscopic surgery.

Conclusions:

• DFSP can occur in surgical scars, with a notable percentage of cases linked to prior procedures.
• The findings suggest a potential association between surgical scars and the malignant transformation leading to DFSP.