Home » Types of skin cancer » Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, shortly which is known as the DFSP is a rare neoplasm which grows beneath the dermis layer of the skin, and is assorted as a malignant neoplastic disease or another form of skin cancer. In various aspects, this form of skin cancer conducts itself as a tumor with benign features, but in 2-5% of cases it can spread throughout the body. Hence it is medically approved that it is having sufficient amount of malignant potential. More than 95% of Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans tumors have the chromosomal translocation which is t(17;22). The translocation of the gene incorporates the collagen gene with the growth factor gene which is platelet-derived. This tumor does basically originate from the fibroblast and expresses the fusion gene in the belief that it contains with itself the codes for collagen. However, the fusion protein of this tumor is processed into the growth factor which is mature platelet-derived and which is a potent growth factor. Fibroblasts of this cell contain the receptor for the purpose of their further growth. Due to this organic process the cell goes through a misconception that it is producing a concrete structural protein but actually through this fact there is the production of a growth signal having self-stimulatory feature. The cell divides rapidly and takes shape of various forms of tumor.

Symptoms of Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans:

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a tumor which grows at a slow rate and it is seen most commonly on the trunk of the body and in the portions including, chest, abdomen and back but it can also occur on the arms, legs, hands, head, neck or feet. Primary symptom of this disease is that it grows as small bump on the surface of the skin and it sometimes have a reddish-blue or reddish-brown color. The tumor then goes through a period of very fast growth where the many small growths in the dermis form a larger, more noticeable mass. This mass of the tumor swells and bulges outward, hence the term protuberans is used. Consequently, this area becomes soft and may bleed sometimes because the top layer of the skin is stretched very tightly over the tumor mass. Treatment of Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans:

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is treated commonly with wide excision and it means that the tumor and a large amount of the tissue surrounding it are removed. There is Mohs’ micrographic surgery which is another option and has been proved to be very effective. This process involves the removal tumor and it is continuing to remove the edges of tissue from the place of the tumor. As each bit of the tissue is removed, it is examined by the doctors if those tissues bear any sign of the malignant cells. The doctors keep on replacing the tissue from the place of tumor until there is no longer any sign of malignant cells is left.

Diagnosis of Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans:

The diagnosis process is pretty time consuming. The main reason is that the initial growth phase is very slow. In order to diagnose the dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans the doctors will dispatch a sample of the affected tissue and they will send it to the concerned laboratory for the purpose of examination under a microscope. Through this biopsy process identification of Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is possible.