Morpheaform Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans Mimicking Panniculitis: A Case Report.
- 1The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Dermatological Department, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210017, People's Republic of China.
Abstract
We present the case of a 21-year-old female with a 2-year history of a slowly enlarging, asymptomatic violaceous atrophic plaque on the left lower abdomen. Ultrasonography suggested panniculitis, but persistent lesion prompted skin biopsy, which revealed storiform spindle cells with dermal sclerosis and subcutaneous honeycomb infiltration; immunohistochemistry demonstrated diffuse CD34 positivity, confirming morpheaform dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). This rare variant of DFSP lacks the classic protuberant nodules and is easily mistaken for benign inflammatory or fibrosing conditions. Diagnosis and management are challenging-in part due to its rarity, but largely because imaging findings are often nonspecific and may misleadingly support inflammatory disorders. Our case highlights that morpheaform DFSP can closely mimic panniculitis both clinically and on ultrasound. Here we discuss the clinical features, diagnostic pitfalls, and therapeutic approach to morpheaform DFSP, in the hope that greater awareness will lead to earlier recognition and improved outcomes.
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BibTeX
@article{zuo2026morpheaform,
title = {{Morpheaform Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans Mimicking Panniculitis: A Case Report.}},
author = {Wen Zuo and Yixi Hong and Siji Zhou and Caihong Sun and Shuang Xu and Xia Liu},
journal = {Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.2147/ccid.s633363},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42904131},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Morpheaform Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans Mimicking Panniculitis: A Case Report.
AU - Wen Zuo
AU - Yixi Hong
AU - Siji Zhou
AU - Caihong Sun
AU - Shuang Xu
AU - Xia Liu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/16
JO - Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology
DO - 10.2147/ccid.s633363
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42904131
AB - We present the case of a 21-year-old female with a 2-year history of a slowly enlarging, asymptomatic violaceous atrophic plaque on the left lower abdomen. Ultrasonography suggested panniculitis, but persistent lesion prompted skin biopsy, which revealed storiform spindle cells with dermal sclerosis and subcutaneous honeycomb infiltration; immunohistochemistry demonstrated diffuse CD34 positivity, confirming morpheaform dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). This rare variant of DFSP lacks the classic protuberant nodules and is easily mistaken for benign inflammatory or fibrosing conditions. Diagnosis and management are challenging-in part due to its rarity, but largely because imaging findings are often nonspecific and may misleadingly support inflammatory disorders. Our case highlights that morpheaform DFSP can closely mimic panniculitis both clinically and on ultrasound. Here we discuss the clinical features, diagnostic pitfalls, and therapeutic approach to morpheaform DFSP, in the hope that greater awareness will lead to earlier recognition and improved outcomes.
SN - 1178-7015
ER -