Dermatofibroma

A common type of benign skin tumor that is small, slow-growing, typically firm, red-to-brown and most often on the legs. Also called a fibrous histiocytoma. They can grow up to about 1 cm (less than a half inch) in diameter. A dermatofibroma consists of a proliferation of scar-like tissue within the deeper layers of the skin (dermis). The cause of dermatofibromas is unknown. They are usually single but sometimes may be multiple. Simple excision is curative.

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A slowly growing benign skin nodule consisting of poorly demarcated cellular fibrous tissue enclosing collapsed capillaries, with scattered hemosiderin-pigmented and lipid macrophages. The following terms are considered by some to be synonymous with, and by others to be varieties of, d.: sclerosing hemangioma (2), fibrous histiocytoma, nodular subepidermal fibrosis. SYN: fibrous histiocytoma, sclerosing hemangioma (2).

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der·ma·to·fi·bro·ma .dər-mət-ō-fī-'brō-mə n, pl -mas also -ma·ta -mət-ə a benign chiefly fibroblastic nodule of the skin found esp. on the extremities of adults

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der·ma·to·fi·bro·ma (dur″mə-to-fi-broґmə) [dermato- + fibroma] a benign, circumscribed, red to brown nodule in the dermis, composed of macrophages that may differentiate to resemble fibroblasts, usually found on the lower legs of women, often after minor trauma. It is a form of benign fibrous histiocytoma, and the two terms are sometimes used synonymously. NOTE: Terminology is variable; several other lesions may be synonymous with or variants of dermatofibroma and benign fibrous histiocytoma, including nodular subepidermal fibrosis and sclerosing hemangioma.