Purpose
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare,
slow-growing,
cutaneous intermediate-grade malignancy,
which is often diagnosed by its typical clinical manifestations.
Our purpose of this study was to describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of five cases of histologically confirmed DFSP,
and to investigate the diagnostic value of MRI on this kind of lesions.
Methods and Materials
We retrospectively analyzed thirty-five cases of superficial skin soft-tissue tumor with MRI examination in our hospital,
five of which were confirmed as DFSP by surgical excision.
Imaging was performed on a 1.5-Tesla or 3.0-Tesla MR scanning.
T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) with fat suppression or short tau inversion recovery images (STIR) were performed in all cases.
Intravenous gadolinium administration was given in three cases at a dose of 0.1mmol/kg.
Signal characteristics were compared with those of muscle and fat.
Size,
location,
and margin...
Results
Fig. 1 Five cases of DFSP involved the frontal part,
shoulder,
chest wall,
abdominal wall and the thigh respectively.
MR imaging demonstrated all lesions involving the skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue causing a focal protuberance of the skin with a lobular or nodular architecture.
Four cases of which were well defined,
and one case was ill-defined in appearance.
The signal characteristics of the lesion are nonspecific,
with signal similar to skeletal muscle on T1WI and similar to or greater than fat on T2WI.
Fat-suppressed T2WI...
Conclusion
MRI is useful in identifying the extent and location of DFSP.
Although the imaging features are not pathognomonic of the tumor,
the characteristic location and shape should be of great value in the differential diagnosis.
References
1.Li X,
Zhang W,
Xiao L,et al.
Computed tomographic and pathological findings of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
J Comput Assist Tomogr.
2012 Jul; 36(4): 462-468.
2.Serra-Guillén C,
Sanmartín O,
Llombart B,
et al.
Correlation between preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and surgical margins with modified Mohs for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
Dermatol Surg.
2011 Nov; 37(11): 1638-1645.
3.Chen X,
Chen YH,
Zhang YL,
et al.
Magnetic resonance imaging and mammographic appearance of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in a male breast: a case report and literature review.
J Med Case Rep.
2009 Jun...
Personal Information
J Zhang,
PhD,MD,
Hangzhou,
Zhejiang CHINA;
Jingfeng Zhang E-Mail:
[email protected]
Dept of Radiology,
the First Affiliated Hospital,School of Medicine,ZhejiangUniversity