Multiple, clustered dermatofibroma: a rare clinical variant of dermatofibroma.
BACKGROUND
Although patients with one to two dermatofibromas are common, cases of "multiple" dermatofibromas (more than 15 lesions) are rare and may occur in the context of altered or normal immune function. Patients with multiple dermatofibromas clustered in one anatomic area, by contrast, are strikingly rare.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to present an additional case of multiple, clustered dermatofibroma (MCDF) and to summarize the literature concerning this entity.


METHODS
We performed a MEDLINE (1960-2001) database search using keywords "dermatofibroma" AND "clustered" OR "agminated" OR "grouped."


RESULTS
Five case reports were identified using this search strategy. These cases demonstrated substantial similarity in clinical features and behavior, specifically, the presence of pruritic symptoms, no clear inciting incident, an early active growth phase followed by stabilization, predilection for the lower extremity, and no report of sarcomatous transformation.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite an active early growth phase, MCDF appears to follow a benign clinical course, with no report of sarcomatous transformation at up to 20 years followup.
Soon
Seaver L
SL
Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
Howard
Amy K
AK
Washington
Carl V
CV
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*