Different sonographic presentations of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a low-grade spindle cell sarcoma of fibroblastic origin. This tumor originates in the dermis and infiltrates the subcutaneous tissue. The highest incidence occurs in the third and fourth decades of life, affecting most frequently the trunk and proximal extremities. Ultrasound is performed in those cases where the clinical appearance of the lesion is not typical and when the physician wants to determine the extent and depth of the lesion.

Retrospective analysis of the ultrasound and demographic findings of thirteen patients with DFSP.

13 patients, 8 females and 5 males, aged from 2 months to 58 years old. One patient with two different separated synchronous tumors. On ultrasonography they compromised the dermal hypodermal layers in 93% of the cases and 1 dermal lesion. The compromise reached the aponeurotic plane in two cases. The sized varied from 5 to 38 mm. They presented as a well-defined hypoechogenic nodule in seven cases (50%). In three cases (21%) they presented as a hypoechogenic infiltrate ill-defined border solid lesion; in two cases as a plaque ill-defined lesion, and two cases as a pseudonodular inflammatory lesion with irregular borders. All lesions appeared vascularized on color Doppler imaging.

DFSP is a low grade sarcoma of fibroblastic origin, that usually arises in the dermis and infiltrates the subcutaneous tissue. The clinical presentations are variable. On ultrasound we found different patterns: well-defined hypoechogenic solid nodule, hypoechogenic infiltrate ill-defined border solid lesion, plaque ill-defined lesion, and pseudonodular inflammatory lesion. It is important to know and recognize this suspicious different ultrasound presentations in order to recommend a histological study.