About Our DFSP Treatment Services
DFSP often goes unnoticed for years because it grows slowly and rarely hurts—which makes an accurate diagnosis all the more important once it’s found.
At Charleston Dermatology, our physicians and providers evaluate suspicious firm plaques and nodules with a deep biopsy, since DFSP lives in the deeper skin layers and can be missed by a shallow sample. Imaging may be recommended for larger tumors.
Treatment plans are built around your diagnosis, and surgery is the cornerstone: Mohs micrographic surgery or wide excision to remove the tumor along with its root-like extensions. DFSP rarely spreads to other parts of the body, and with complete removal the outlook is excellent. Schedule a visit and let our team map out the next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans?
DFSP is a rare sarcoma (a cancer of connective tissue) that starts in the dermis, the middle layer of skin. It usually appears as a firm, flesh-colored, reddish, or violet patch that slowly thickens into one or more raised nodules. It’s most often found on the chest, back, shoulders, or limbs in adults between 20 and 50.
What causes DFSP?
Most cases involve a specific genetic change within the tumor cells (a chromosomal translocation) that occurs during a person’s lifetime—it is not inherited from a parent. Some cases have been reported at sites of previous injury or scarring, but for most patients there’s no identifiable cause.
How is DFSP treated?
Surgical removal is the primary treatment, and because DFSP sends out finger-like extensions beneath the skin, techniques that check the margins carefully—like Mohs surgery—offer the lowest recurrence rates. For rare cases that can’t be fully removed surgically, targeted medication or radiation may be options. Long-term follow-up is recommended since DFSP can recur locally.