Clinical and histopathological analysis of 141 dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in Korea: A comparative study according to trauma

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare fibrohistiocytic tumour of unknown pathogenesis with intermediate malignant potential. Although trauma has been hypothesized as a predisposing factor for DFSP development, clinicopathological characteristics of trauma-related DFSP have not been investigated.This study investigated the differences between trauma-associated DFSP and trauma-unrelated DFSP.Patients histopathologically diagnosed with DFSP from January 2000 to December 2019 at the Dermatology Department were included. Clinical, histopathological, prognostic features and trauma history were analysed.We recruited 141 patients with DFSP (mean age, 36.1 years; male: female, 1:1.01). Recurrence and systemic metastasis were observed in 15.6% and 2.8% of patients, respectively. Older patients were likely to develop DFSP at the trauma sites more frequently on the face and lower legs. The active-growing lesions were more frequently associated with trauma-related DFSP. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that age at diagnosis (OR: 1.031; 95% CI: 1.004-1.059; p = 0.024) and tumour growth (OR: 3.336; 95% CI: 1.162-9.578, p = 0.025) were significantly associated with trauma-related DFSPs.The age at diagnosis, lesion location and tumour growth were associated with DFSPs in this study. Analysis of DFSP with trauma history provides a deeper understanding of long-term trauma effects on sarcoma development.