Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is not a difficult tumor to recognize
because of its characteristic clinical appearance, although some unusu
al variants have been reported. We describe the atrophic variant of de
rmatofibrosarcoma protuberans in a 21-year-old female. The lesion was
a smooth-surfaced, oval depression on the left subclavicular area, wit
h a violaceous plaque at the center. The suspected clinical diagnosis
did not include fibrous tumors, although histological examination show
ed the typical picture of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. Positive CD
34 staining was also helpful in the diagnosis. We review 14 cases of t
he atrophic variant of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in the literatu
re. Dermatologists should be aware of this uncommon but characteristic
appearance of atrophic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.