BACKGROUND: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare malignant cutaneous tumour of which diagnosis is often delayed because of the lack of early clinical clues. OBJECTIVES: To describe the main dermoscopic features of DFSP. METHODS: We performed dermoscopic examination in 15 unselected, consecutive cases of biopsy-proven DFSP. Firstly, six dermoscopic features were identified collegially, then all cases were reviewed separately by six experienced dermoscopists. In a given lesion, features recognized only by all dermoscopists were taken into account. RESULTS: The median number of dermoscopic features was four per lesion. The following dermoscopic features were found: delicate pigmented network (87%), vessels (80%), structureless light brown areas (73%), shiny white streaks (67%), pink background coloration (67%) and structureless hypo- or depigmented areas (60%). When detected, vessels were of arborizing type in 11 of 12 cases, and presented as either unfocused only, or both unfocused and focused. CONCLUSIONS: This first study of the dermoscopic spectrum of DFSP identifies six dermoscopic features (often associated in a multicomponent pattern) and a peculiar vascular pattern. Whether dermoscopy can help to identify suspected DFSP remains to be established by further studies.
BACKGROUND:Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare malignant cutaneous tumour of which diagnosis is often delayed because of the lack of early clinical clues. OBJECTIVES: To describe the main dermoscopic features of DFSP. METHODS: We performed dermoscopic examination in 15 unselected, consecutive cases of biopsy-proven DFSP. Firstly, six dermoscopic features were identified collegially, then all cases were reviewed separately by six experienced dermoscopists. In a given lesion, features recognized only by all dermoscopists were taken into account. RESULTS: The median number of dermoscopic features was four per lesion. The following dermoscopic features were found: delicate pigmented network (87%), vessels (80%), structureless light brown areas (73%), shiny white streaks (67%), pink background coloration (67%) and structureless hypo- or depigmented areas (60%). When detected, vessels were of arborizing type in 11 of 12 cases, and presented as either unfocused only, or both unfocused and focused. CONCLUSIONS: This first study of the dermoscopic spectrum of DFSP identifies six dermoscopic features (often associated in a multicomponent pattern) and a peculiar vascular pattern. Whether dermoscopy can help to identify suspected DFSP remains to be established by further studies.