Skin Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Skin Cancer, including details on identification, causes, prevention, treatment.

Late recurrence of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in the female breast: a case report.

Swan MC, Banwell PE, Hollowood K, Goodacre TE

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Radcliffe Infirmary, University of Oxford, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6HE, UK.

The case presented is of a 39-year-old female who, at the age of 13 years, had had a "dermatofibroma" excised from her left breast. Twenty-six years later she developed an unsightly "stretched scar". Excision biopsy demonstrated a dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). This was managed by wide local excision, preservation of the nipple-areolar complex, and immediate reconstruction with a pedicled latissimus dorsi flap. Review of the original histology confirmed the presence of DFSP, revising the original diagnosis. Most DFSPs recur within 3 years of primary excision. Such prolonged latency prior to recurrence has not been previously described. This reinforces the need to educate patients regarding the importance of long-term scar surveillance following skin tumour excision.

Published 4 January 2005 in Br J Plast Surg, 58(1): 84-7.
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