Dermatofibroma - Symptom, Treatment and cause of Dermatofibroma

DESCRIPTION: Common non-cancerous fibrous skin lumps that usually occuron the legs and arms.

CAUSE: Unknown, but may arise at the site of a minor injury such as aninsect bite or thorn prick.

SYMPTOMS: Firm yellow-brown nodule in the skin, that if squeezed forms adimple because the skin is tethered to the nodule.

INVESTIGATIONS: None necessary unless there is concern that it might becancerous, when it is excised.

TREATMENT: None necessary unless cosmetically unacceptable, when it canbe removed surgically, frozen (cryotherapy) with liquid nitrogen orinjected with a steroid.

COMPLICATIONS: None significant.

PROGNOSIS: Usually persist for years unless surgically removed.