Is a dermatofibroma a tumor?

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asked Mar 9, 2022 in Diseases Conditions by CharlesDuval (1,130 points)
Is a dermatofibroma a tumor?

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answered Mar 10, 2022 by Chambliss (53,140 points)
Dermatofibroma is a tumor but dermatofibroma is a non cancerous and non harmful tumor.

Dermatofibromas are benign (noncancerous) and harmless in this regard.

They are considered to be a common tumor in the skin that may occur in multiples for some people.

Dermatofibromas comprise a mixture of tissues, including blood vessels, fibroblasts, and macrophages.

The growths run into the dermis, which is the middle layer of the skin.

In rare cases, the growths can extend to the subcutis, which is deeper.

These types of growths may be harder to remove surgically.

While dermatofibromas are usually benign, in very rare cases, cellular dermatofibromas may metastasize.

For this reason, any lesion which recurs should be followed up carefully to rule out malignancy.

Dermatofibroma (cutaneous fibrous histiocytoma) represents a common benign mesenchymal tumor, and numerous morphological variants have been described.

Some variants of dermatofibroma are characterized by an increased risk of local recurrences, and there are a few reported metastasizing cases.

Dermatofibromas do not go away by themselves.

However, as they are harmless and do not turn into cancer, no treatment is usually needed.

They can be removed under local anaesthetic if there is doubt about their diagnosis. However, removal will always cause a scar.

Dermatofibromas are small, noncancerous (benign) skin growths that can develop anywhere on the body but most often appear on the lower legs, upper arms or upper back.

These nodules are common in adults but are rare in children.

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