Two friends with eroded nodules on the ears: atypical fibroxanthoma case report

• Published in: Anais brasileiros de dermatología Vol. 90; no. 4; pp. 577 - 579
• Main Authors: Pesapane, Filippo, Nazzaro, Gianluca, Lunardon, Luisa, Coggi, Antonella, Gianotti, Raffaele
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Spain Sociedade Brasileira de Dermatologia 01.07.2015
• Subjects: Aged; Biopsy; Case Report; DERMATOLOGY; Diagnosis, Differential; Ear Auricle - pathology; Ear Neoplasms - pathology; Fibroma - pathology; Friends; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Sarcoma; Skin neoplasms; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Xanthomatosis - pathology; Immunohistochemistry; Sarcoma; Skin neoplasms
• ISSN: 0365-0596; 1806-4841; 1806-4841; 0365-0596
• DOI: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20153313

Atypical fibroxanthoma is an uncommon mesenchymal tumor that manifests clinically as a reddish papule or nodule in sun-exposed areas of the body. The clinical presentation is not specific and histology and immunohistochemistry are both necessary for a correct diagnosis. Surgery is the gold standard of therapy. Recurrence and metastasis should be excluded with a follow-up at 6 months, since this tumor should nowadays be considered a medium-grade neoplasm, rather than low-grade as previously believed. We report the case of two friends who came to our hospital during the same period, complaining of very similar lesions. After biopsy and immunohistochemical examination, a diagnosis of atypical fibroxanthoma in both cases was formulated.