title: CD34-reactive fibrous papule of the nose.
abstract: In human skin, the CD34 antigen is expressed on endothelium, periadnexal cells, and a population of reticular dermal interstitial cells. CD34 expression is characteristic of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and several other neoplasms, but not of typical fibrous papules of the nose. We describe a 16-year-old white girl with a slowly growing papule on the nose. Histopathology showed a dermal tumor with a superficial component of branched, thin-walled blood vessels and a deeper component of benign-appearing, spindle-shaped cells. These cells uniformly and strongly expressed CD34, but not factor XIIIa or markers of melanocytic, neural, muscular, vascular, or histiocytic differentiation. We consider this lesion a CD34-reactive fibrous papule. This benign tumor must be clearly distinguished from dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, which also is composed of bundles of CD34-reactive spindle-shaped cells in most cases but has locally aggressive behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Shea
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salob
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lugo
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: McNutt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018223:Dermatofibrosarcoma / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D014746:Vimentin