Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: how wide is wide in surgical excision?

Acta Chir Belg. 2002 Dec;102(6):455-8. doi: 10.1080/00015458.2002.11679351.

Abstract

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a rare mesenchimal tumour mainly characterized by its local aggressiveness and high reported recurrence rates. Classically, wide excisional surgery with at least 3 cm of free tissue margins is recommended as treatment. We present a series of 18 patients with variable gross free tissue margins but confirmed histological free margins in all cases whatever the surgical excision really was. Only one patient presented a local recurrence (5.5%) of a very large (14 cm) sarcomatous variant of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. Mean follow-up in this series was 52.1 months. Those results emphasize that histological rather than theoretical "golden rules" are mandatory to locally control this aggressive neoplasm.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Dermatofibrosarcoma / pathology
  • Dermatofibrosarcoma / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / surgery*