title: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. CT findings with pathologic correlation in 6 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the CT findings of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
  
  
  METHODS
  CT and pathologic specimens of 6 patients with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (5 in the trunk and 1 in the leg) were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CT clearly defined the tumors in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue with a characteristic, if not pathognomonic, protrusion. On postcontrast CT, 3 tumors showed marginal enhancement and central low density, while the others showed homogeneous enhancement. Pathologically, the marginal enhancement on CT corresponded to fibrosarcomatous changes, and the central low density to necrosis. The tumors with homogeneous enhancement had no sarcomatous changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT allows detection and precise anatomic localization of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. Marginal enhancement with central low density on CT may suggest a relatively poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Ichihara Hospital, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miyakawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyakawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nemoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kozawa
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sugano
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Odani
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018223:Dermatofibrosarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed