title: Dermatofibroma with sclerotic areas resembling a sclerotic fibroma of the skin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatofibromas are common benign tumors that occur as single or multiple nodules on the extremities in adults. Sclerotic fibroma of the skin (SFS) is a benign tumor characterized histopathologically by a well-demarcated, non-encapsulated dermal nodule composed of hypocellular, sclerotic collagen bundles with prominent clefts. The pathogenesis of these two conditions is still in dispute.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case of dermatofibroma with sclerotic areas resembling a sclerotic fibroma of the skin and a review of the literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tumor showed a well-demarcated dermal, fibrocollagenous tumor with three different histopathological features. One-fourth of the lesion was consistent with dermatofibroma. Another area adjacent to dermatofibroma revealed hyalinized eosinophilic collagen bundles arranged in the characteristic interwoven pattern with prominent clefts, as is described in sclerotic fibroma of the skin. One-half of the lesion between the dermatofibroma and sclerotic fibroma showed transitional changes from dermatofibroma to sclerotic fibroma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to these findings, the possibility that sclerotic fibroma is an ancient or degenerated stage of dermatofibroma cannot be completely ruled out, but some authors still consider that dermatofibroma and sclerotic fibroma of the skin are completely different neoplasms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, 162 Ilsan-Dong, Wonju, Kangwon-Do, South Korea.
authors.forename: In-Bum
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Sang Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Seung Hun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eung Ho
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sung Ku
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005350:Fibroma / Q000473:pathology*; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012598:Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery