DERMATOFIBROSARCOMA WITH LYMPH-NODE INVOLVEMENT

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a slow-growing, locally aggressive, fibrous tumor that, on rare occasions, metastasizes to distant sites or regional lymph nodes. We have found 28 patients with metastasis in the literature; 9 of these patients had lymph node metastasis. In this report we present a case of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the lo wer extremity with metastasis to inguinal lymph nodes appearing 10 mon ths after wide excision and skin grafting of the primary lesion. The c linical and pathological features of this case are presented. Although , along with our patient, 10 cases of regional lymph node metastasis a re not justification for regional lymph node dissections, they do emph asize the need for regional lymph node examinations in the long-term f ollow-up of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans cases.